How can I know that the answer to my prayer is from God?

How can I know that the answer
to my prayer is from God?

Tough question! In order to help answer it let's take an example ...

Let's assume that you are having problems in work, and that you have asked God to help you out or get you out. The answer can depend on a number of things, the main questions being, What have you asked for?

In our example, are you asking for a new job when you should maybe be asking for strength in your current job? Are you wanting God to arrange things so that you don't have to work?

How are you praying?

Are you expecting God to answer your prayer? Are you praying in faith?

Are you praying for the right thing? In our example, is the problem to do with the work itself, the people that you have to work with, or with yourself?

Are you more concerned with yourself or with others?

Are you asking God to change others, thinking that you yourself are okay?

So why test against Scripture? From 2 Timothy 3:16,

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

And why pray in faith?

But does that mean then that for every question we have, the Bible contains an answer?

No !

God has given us something better than just some pat answers to our questions. We have His principles, and it is those principles that we are to apply to every situation we find ourselves in. Those principles are set out in His book.

For example, in Matthew 7:1-12 we can see that the Christian is not to judge hypocritically or self-righteously. We must evaluate a person's character, whether their life shows fruit (verse 16). Scripture repeatedly exhorts believers to evaluate carefully and choose between good and bad people and things. The so-called "Golden Rule" is stated in Matthew 7:12,

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

But as Patience Strong once wrote,

It is not an easy thing to smile - when you have to go the second mile - a loving and forgiving word to speak - and when attacked to turn the other cheek ...
No diploma or degree you need - for practising the Galilean creed - so simple are the rules, yet day by day - we fail. We make a slip. We go astray.
It is not as easy as it looks - to live the message of the Holy Books ...
Love your neighbour, putting self aside - the sermon on the mountain for your guide ...
Easy? No. It's hard. Too hard for me - but I must go on trying faithfully - for what's this world if not a training school - for learning how to keep the Golden Rule?

It is not a simple thing at times understanding God's word, it's why we should keep reading and studying the Bible.

So if we can not work it out for ourselves what can we do about it?

Well, we can pray and ask God to give us wisdom to know whether the answer that we have received is truly from Him.
Other Christians ... Discuss what you prayed for and the answer that you received with them. Sometimes God uses other people to give us His answer to our prayer.
Common sense can also help, as can our experiences in life.

But the kind of question that we asked at the beginning is an extremely difficult one to answer without going into specifics and overloading on examples. Life is sufficiently complex for us to never compile an exhaustive list of commands for our daily lives. It's what the Pharisees were accused of doing by Jesus - a law for every minutiae.

But what happens if we have done all this and we still don't know?

Then you can either wait or if you can't wait, then it's time to bite the bullet and trust that it is from God, and if it isn't then trust that He will let you know.
Sometimes you have to go with it before you find out that you're not doing what God intended.
It may be that God is disciplining you, maybe you were impatient, maybe you weren't really listening.
Remember that only God is perfect, we simply have to do our best and hope it's blessed.
God is faithful and He will see you through it, if you trust in Him.

So let me give a real life example. Joy is currently working as a teacher, but she has a bad neck which makes it difficult for her to bend over and look down at the kid's work, both in class and at home when she is marking their work. And it has been getting worse, headaches, dizzy spells that sort of thing.
So she and her husband, Ian, have a decision to make, does she keep teaching or give up work? Well, if she keeps teaching then she will probably end up taking a lot of time off, she will need visits to the chiropractor, and it will probably have an adverse effect in later years. The chiropractor costs money, dealing with the consequences later on in life may not be cheap, but they could certainly do with the salary that she brings home. If she gives up work then they wont have that salary, but she will be a happier person which will also affect her health which will be beneficial for her later on in life. But what does God want her to do? Well they prayed about it, they read the Bible, no divine inspiration just a feeling that the best thing for her was to give up being a teacher.
So how do they know that this feeling they both have is truly from God? Is this their answer to prayer?
God does not want us to be lazy, we are to work, we are also to be out there amongst non-believers (says so in the Bible !). So from reading the Bible, it wasn't a case of Joy not working at all, a change of career would be required then. But where does God want her to work? They were unable to wait long for an answer to that question, because she had to give her notice in soon.
So without knowing what work God has in-store for them, they had to make a step of faith. They had to trust that God would look after them, that they would continue to have enough money coming in to pay the bills, and that He would find Joy something to do. She handed in her resignation. Well, not long after they had made that decision she got a request to do some tutoring - an answer to prayer?
What the future has in-store they (and we) don't know, but now that they have made that decision a number of opportunities have presented themselves.
It will be fun (and hard at times) for them and us.

So, from what we experienced in that example, it shows that we don't always have an answer to the question at the top of the page, we just have to trust in what God had said He would do as written in Scripture, i.e. do what was best for us.

But sometimes we can need some guidance on specific areas, and knowing where to look can be daunting, so the following are just some of the things that the Bible comments on (in alphabetical order, taken from the Gideon Bible I found in a hotel once) ...


	Afraid		Adversity
	Psalms 56:3, 4, 10-11		Matthew 10:28-33
	Isaiah 12:2, 41:10		Philippians 4:4-7
	Mark 4:35-41

	Anger		Attacked
	Matthew 5:22-25		Psalms 35:1-2, 54:1-4
	James 1:19-21		Proverbs 18:10

	Bereaved / Heartbroken		Bitter or critical
	Psalms 147:3		Psalms 73:21-25
	1 Corinthians 15:51-57		Matthew 7:1-5
	1 Thessalonians 4:13-18		Romans 14:10-13
	Revelation 21:3-5		1 Corinthians 4:5

	Bereaved / Heartbroken		Bitter or critical
	Psalms 147:3		Psalms 73:21-25
	1 Corinthians 15:51-57		Matthew 7:1-5
	1 Thessalonians 4:13-18		Romans 14:10-13
	Revelation 21:3-5		1 Corinthians 4:5

	Choosing a career		Citizenship
	Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:3-9		Matthew 22:21
	Jeremiah 29:11		Romans 12:7 - 13:14
	James 1:5-8		Titus 3:1-6
			1 Peter 2:13-17

	Conscious of sin		Considering Marriage
	Psalms 51		Proverbs 31:10-30
	Psalms 103:12		Matthew 19:4-6
	Proverbs 28:13		Ephesians 5:22-33
	Luke 15:11-24		Hebrews 13:4
	1 John 1:5-10

	Contemplating Revenge		Contentment
	Proverbs 20:22		Colossians 3:16-17
	Romans 12:17-19		Hebrews 13:5-6
	1 Thessalonians 5:15
	1 Peter 2:23

	Conversation		Criticism
	Ephesians 4:15,20-32		Matthew 7:1-5
	2 Timothy 2:23-26		Romans 2:1-4
			Romans 14:4-13

	Death		Desperate / At wits end
	John 11:25-27		Psalms 55:16-17, 22
	Romans 14:7-9		Psalms 61:1-3, 62:1-2
	Philippians 1:21		Psalms 94:18-19, 22
	1 Thessalonians 4:13-18		Psalms 121:1-2, 7

	Diligence		Discipleship
	Romans 12:11		John 15:1-8
			Acts 11:19-26
			1 Peter 2:21-25

	Distressed or Troubled		Doubting
	Psalms 9:9-10, 50:15		2 Kings 18-19
	Isaiah 25:1, 4		Psalms 53:1
	Romans 8:28-39		Isaiah 33:5-6
	2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18		Mark 9:23-24
			John 20:24-31

	Drink Abuse		Drug Abuse
	Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35		Proverbs 1:10, 14:12
	Ephesians 5:18		John 8:34-36
	1 Thessalonians 5:6-8		2 Peter 2:19

	Enemies		Envy
	Matthew 5:10-12, 43-48		Proverbs 14:30
			Galatians 5:26
			Philippians 4:11
			James 3:16

	Facing Death		Failure comes
	Psalms 23:4		Psalms 73:26, 84:11
	Jonah 2:7-9		Psalms 77
	John 3:16, 14:1-3		Hebrews 4:14-16
	Revelation 21:4		Jude 24-25

	Faith		Faith in weak
	Mark 11:22-24		Joshua 1:7-9
	Romans 5:1-2		Isaiah 7:9
	Hebrews 11:1 - 12:2		Matthew 8:5-13
			Luke 12:22-31
			Hebrews 11

	Faithfulness		Far from God
	Luke 19:12-26		Psalms 42:5-11, 139:1-18
	1 Corinthians 4:1-5		Psalms 145:18
			Acts 17:22-30
			James 4:8

	Feeling Inadequate		Feeling Lost
	Psalms 138:8		Psalms 107:4-9
	1 Corinthians 1:20-31		Luke 19:10
	2 Corinthians 12:9-10		Ephesians 2:12-13
	Philippians 4:12-13

	Fellowship		Forgiveness
	Acts 2:42-47		Matthew 18:21-35
	Romans 12:9-16		Acts 13:26-39
	1 Corinthians 10:16-17		Ephesians 4:31-32
	1 John 1:5-7

	Friends Fail		Friendship
	Psalms 27:10-14		John 15:2-17 (12-17?)
	Psalms 41		James 4:4
	Luke 17:3-4
	2 Timothy 4:16-18

	Generosity		Gratitude
	Acts 4:34-37, 20:32-35		Luke 17:17-18
	2 Corinthians 9:6-15		Colossians 3:15
			1 Thessalonians 5:18

	Honesty		Humility
	Romans 12:17		Luke 22:24-27
	Ephesians 4:28		John 13:4-17
			Philippians 2:3-11
			1 Peter 5:5-7

	Ill or in Pain		In Danger / Threatened
	Psalms 38:3-10		Psalms 27:1, 118:6-9
	Psalms 69:29-30, 103:1-4		Proverbs 18:10
	2 Corinthians 12:9-10		Mark 4:37-41
	James 5:14-16		1 Peter 3:13-14

	Insulted		Intimidated
	Psalms 69:9		Psalms 3:1-3, 55:20-22
	Proverbs 12:16		Proverbs 29:25
	Romans 15:3-4
	1 Peter 2:23

	Jealousy		Just retired
	Luke 15:25-32		Psalms 71:9
	Galatians 5:19-26		Proverbs 16:3
	James 3:13-18		Isaiah 46:4
			Philippians 4:12

	Left Home		Lies
	Psalms 121		Proverbs 6:16-19, 19:9
	Proverbs 3:1-7		John 8:44
	Mark 10:28-30		Ephesians 4:25
			Revelation 21:8

	Lonely		Looking for a job / Made redundant
	Genesis 28:15		Psalms 71:3
	Deuteronomy 31:8		Proverbs 16:3-9
	Psalms 23		Isaiah 48:17, 58:9-11
	Revelation 3:20		Colossians 3:17, 23

	Love		Marriage
	1 Corinthians 13:1-3		Mark 10:2-12
	1 John 4:7-12		Ephesians 5:21-33

	Needing Guidance		Needing Peace
	Psalms 32:8-10		Isaiah 26:3-4
	Proverbs 3:5-6		John 14:27
	Isaiah 48:17-18		Romans 5:1-5 (4-5?)
	Romans 12:1-2		Philippians 4:4-7

	Obedience		Old Age
	Matthew 7:24-29, 12:50		Luke 2:25-38
	John 15:10-14		Titus 2:1-6
	Acts 5:29-32

	Patience		Permissiveness
	James 5:7-11		Romans 6:1-2, 11-14
			1 Corinthians 6:9-20

	Prayer		Praying
	Matthew 26:38-41		Psalms 66:17, 20
	Luke 18:1-8		Luke 11:1-13
	Ephesians 6:18		John 14:12-14
			James 5:13, 16
			1 John 5:14-15

	Priorities		Purity
	Matthew 6:33		2 Timothy 2:22
	Luke 12:15-21		Titus 1:15-16

	Riches		Righteousness
	Matthew 6:24, 33		Romans 1:16-18, 3:10-26
	Mark 10:17-31		Romans 5:1-21, 6:11-23
	1 Timothy 6:7-12

	Salvation		Sexual Immorality
	Romans 10:9-11		Proverbs 5:1-21
	Ephesians 2:4-9		1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 13
	Titus 2:11-14		Galatians 5:19-23
			1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

	Sleepless		Steadfastness
	Psalms 3:5, 4:1, 6-8		Luke 9:51
	Proverbs 3:21-26		1 Corinthians 15:57-58
	Matthew 11:28		Ephesians 6:10-18
	1 Peter 5:7		1 Peter 5:8-10

	Stealing		Sympathy
	Exodus 20:15		Romans 15:1
	Romans 13:9-10		Hebrews 13:3
	Ephesians 4:28		James 1:27
	Hebrews 13:5		1 Peter 3:8

	Thankful		Thoughts
	Psalms 92:1-5		Romans 12:3
	Psalms 100		Philippians 4:8
	2 Corinthians 2:14
	Ephesians 5:19-20

	Unemployed		Victimised
	Ecclesiastes 7:14		Psalms 37:8-11, 34
	Jeremiah 29:11		Psalms 59:3-4, 9-10
	Philippians 4:11-13		Proverbs 16:7
			Hebrews 13:6

	Wanting to be a Christian		Wanting Divorce
	Isaiah 55:6-7		Malachi 2:15-16
	John 1:12, 3:14-19, 36		Mark 10:1-12
	Acts 16:30-31		Romans 7:2-3

	Wanting Suicide		Weary
	1 Kings 19:3-5		Psalms 116:3-14
	Psalms 31:9, 14-15, 88:1-5, 13		Isaiah 30:15, 18, 40:28-31
	Isaiah 50:10		Matthew 11:28-30
	1 Corinthians 3:16-17		2 Corinthians 4:16-18

	Witnessing		Worried
	Isaiah 43:10		Psalms 46
	Acts 1:8, 5:20-21, 18:9-10		Isaiah 43:1-3
	1 Peter 3:15		Nahum 1:7
			Matthew 6:25-34
			Philippians 4:6-7

	Wrongly accused / Unfairly treated
	Lamentations 3:59-63
	Luke 6:27-28
	Hebrews 12:3
	1 Peter 2:19-24

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