“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” – James 4:3 KJV

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” – Psalms 37:4 KJV

God’s allowance isn’t always God’s gift. Just because God allows us to have what we want that doesn’t mean He gave it to us. Even if we learn a valuable lesson from it, that still doesn’t mean God gave us something that He didn’t want us to have. What it means is that God allowed us to have our own way for a time, to teach us that leaning on our own understanding isn’t the best course of action. Hence God opens our eyes to the law of consequences, and thereby seeks to show us that haste makes waste when people attempt to step outside of His will.

Indeed, God will give us the desires of our hearts, but only on the condition that we delight ourselves in Him. In other words, we must have a desire to receive what He wants for us in order for Him to give us the desires of our hearts. Of course, what this means is that we will be diligent to learn of His ways, seeking to walk in obedience to all that He has commanded of us. Take caution, however, in how you judge what you see; for delighting yourself in the LORD isn’t as much about outward appearances as it is about what’s inside of your heart. Not all is as it appears to be. There are many who appear to be serving God, but they’re actually serving themselves instead. Jesus emphasized this point very clearly, in the following words:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” – Matthew 7:21-23 KJV

The bottom line here is that a heart that delights in God will take what God gives and give what He takes, seeking Him first in everything, and exalting His will above all others. Such a person can be sure to know that their prayers will be answered, because they ask according to the will of God.

“this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15 KJV)

So, if your prayers aren’t being answered that doesn’t mean God is failing to do His part to give you something good; rather, it’s likely that your desires aren’t in agreement with what He delights in. But if your desires are in agreement with what He delights in, then you simply need to be more patient in waiting on the LORD. For He always gives us what’s best, but sometimes we have to wait a little while before receiving it, so that when it comes we will value it, and not take it for granted by using it for something other than what it’s intended.

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” – Psalms 37:5-11 KJV