When we first start out as a new Christian, we usually continue to use all the systems and methods we are used to. World systems are all we know; so, we are held to using those things even though we have all the systems and provisions of God available. At some point in our situations of life, we decide to go to God for something. We present a need to Him and He instantly responds with a total and permanent answer to our request. This experience introduces us into the world of what God CAN do. The first stage of growth for us is to get acquainted with what God is capable of. If we don’t grow to this point, we will never be able to have total faith in Him. It is at the point of total, instant, and permanent answers to various prayers we pray that we learn this important fact. These supernatural miracles awaken us to the realm of the Spirit of God. We move from the natural to the supernatural and start learning about God and the things of God.

The next stage of spiritual growth is to learn what God WILL do. We now know that nothing is impossible with God. Our faith in what He can do has grown to a strong and constant trust in Him for everything.

Now we need to find out what He wants us to believe. One of the first things we learn is that God can but won’t do everything we ask Him to do. That is sometimes a very frustrating lesson; but it is a very important one. Now that we know He won’t do everything we ask, we start wondering what makes some of our requests be rejected and others get accepted. It is during this time of talking to God about why He rejects some of our prayers that we find out it has to do with His love. We discover that He won’t do anything that wouldn’t be good for us. The question we face that this point is, who decides what is good for us? We quickly find out it is God Who makes this decision. The next question that comes up is, how do we know what God thinks is good for us? The answer to that one is easy. God will refuse to give it to us. However, sometimes there are things we can do that will help certain things become good for us.

Ask God to help you grow in your knowledge and spiritual skills so you can get all your needs met through Him. Ask Him to help you learn from the Holy Spirit the principles of answered prayers. Pray that He will show you whether or not there is something you need to do so as to get more of your prayers answered positively.