Understanding Prayer and Fasting

If you fast and do not receive the answer, maybe it’s not because the door is closed, but because you are at the wrong door. So, seek the right door. Seek the life principle attached to that situation. Sometimes, we pray the wrong prayer. How can I pray and fast for my farm to yield crops when I haven’t even sown anything yet? I need to check the life principle that requires me to sow first. How can I take a twenty-one-day fast for an exam that I didn’t study for? God hates laziness but blesses our efforts.
(Genesis 3:19 NIV; Deuteronomy 25:4 NIV; Proverbs 12:24 NIV; Proverbs 10:4 NIV; Proverbs 6:10 NIV)

Who, then, is a lazy person? Proverbs 26:13–16 (NIV) gives the best answer. In verse 16, we see that a lazy person is unwilling to seek the proper knowledge that may help them in their situation.

How can I be arrogant and disrespectful to others but still want to grow in life?
(Matthew 5:5 NIV)

If you want, you can pray all day, but if you lack wisdom, nothing will happen. This world is built on pillars called wisdom. Some people gain it only in old age, but it is available to us now.
(Proverbs 1:20–33 NIV) Sometimes, we gain wisdom after many trials.

The children of this world (unbelievers) use life principles to prosper. He who said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,”
(Matthew 5:8 NIV) also said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5 NIV) They prosper by wisdom, not necessarily through sin. Whoever prospers through sin will eventually face downfall.

But if you close your mind to wisdom, while others use long-established life principles to prosper, don’t be jealous later. Don’t imprison your mind and regret it later.

Secondly, your fast may not be answered because it is not the right timing. If the prayer or fasting were answered now, it could negatively affect you. Just because Mr. Tambe has a car doesn’t mean you should have one now. Buying that car today might be the “serpent” that destabilizes your finances or future projects, while it’s a blessing (bread) to Mr. Tambe.
(Luke 11:10–13 NIV)

Unanswered prayers are messages from God. If your prayers are unanswered, seek the right action—perhaps by praying again. Don’t be angry when your prayers are unanswered, but make room for the seeking aspect while you continue praying or fasting. Prayer and fasting are not just about asking; for He who said, “Ask,” also said “Seek” and “Knock.”

This brings us to the attitude of prayer. We pray for the will of the all-wise God, not ours.
(Matthew 6:10 NIV; Matthew 26:42 NIV) We see this attitude of prayer in David
(2 Samuel 12:19–23 NIV), King Hezekiah
(2 Kings 20:19 NIV), and Job
(Job 2:9–10 NIV).