why aren't my prayers being answered? . . .

Have you ever wondered why your prayers don't seem to be answered? In my upcoming book "Jeané Rose, the Face of Courage," I talk about the power of forgiveness, but I also explain in detail the power and consequences of unforgiveness. 

Someone's done you wrong and you're going to make them pay for it. "You've messed with the wrong person -- I'll show you." 

You approach that person who's done you wrong with . . . "Damn you, damn you for what you've done. I'll never forgive you.  You've just gotten in the middle of it. You're saying, "OK God, I've got this handled. I'll make sure that person knows just how rotten they are. Once I've finished with them then you can take over."

With that slapping them in the face they'll get their dander up and never let the Lord deal with them about what they've done.  

This is different than God's grace and mercy -- His forgiveness of us because we need forgiveness -- but that's not what we're dealing with here. We're dealing with people, people like Janice and Bill, Paul and Jack, Michelle and Philip -- you and family. Forgiving one another is the kind of forgiveness where it hits home. Doing so pays off with big dividends. Failure to do so will have tragic and lasting consequences.

Let's see what Jesus said about this matter or forgiveness, and how it will affect your answers to prayer.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15.)

This wasn't a SUGGESTION!!  Jesus said "if you forgive others you will be forgiven, but if you don't forgive others, you won't be forgiven."  There were no ambiguities here. 

And if the person you're unwilling to forgive is someone close to you, such as a friend or family member -- and they truly did you wrong -- your unforgiveness can actually get in the way of the Holy Spirit reaching into the conscience of that person and keeping them from getting well!! 

Remember, your lack of forgiveness is hurting you a whole lot more than it’s hurting them. They’re probably not giving you a second thought, but you’re letting unforgiveness eat away at you like a cancer, and cancer spreads (metastasizes) and if not stopped it could kill you.

Back off, let them know you've forgiven them, and then if they need to be convicted for what they've done -- let the Lord handle it. He'll do a better job than you could ever do, and meanwhile your forgiveness WILL LIBERATE YOU!!

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If you would like to schedule Ken Simmons to speak to your church or organization he can be contacted at: Ken Simmons Ministries, Ontario, California kensimmonsministries@gmail.com or call (909) 957-8882.