Is God A Genie and If I Rub Him the Right Way Will I Get What I Want?

There are safeguards built into God's kingdom. The children of Israel wanted a king and that was not God's will, but God "warned" that they were not going to like their king. Usually, God sends warnings in one way or another.

I know my husband had several warning signs about his heart, he did not listen to the warnings. He was a Christian so he is in a better place, I just wish he heeded the warnings of a pending heart attack. He had chronic asthma so he thought tightness in his chest was that he needed his asthma inhaler prescription he was waiting on through the mail, so he did not get that checked out.

Many people are sincere in life, unfortunately, they are sincerely wrong.

There is a difference between a believer and a disciple. The great commission that Jesus gave us is to "make disciples" --this is more than just believers. Some churches are mixing New Age teaching with the gospel and they are making believers, they are not making disciples. (Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19)

What is a disciple? Jesus said to "continue" in his word. I can't count how many Christians I know become saved and that is all. They don't grow by studying God's word.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word (faithful to my teachings), then are ye my disciples indeed; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32

There is a freedom promised us if we continue in His teachings.

Part of being a disciple is to bear fruit. What is fruit? I believe that is bearing good fruit of character and fruit of our spirit.

You bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 8:31
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Getting our requests from our Heavenly Father (not a Genie) is if we remain in God and his words remain in us. I learned computer programming and there are "if"/else statements. Those if statements are to meet the condition of the program and if those conditions are met than the next line of code will process otherwise the code will abort. The code aborts if the conditions are not met. Prayer requests can remain unanswered, because we are not praying according to God's word (His will). Praying according to God's word is praying according to his will.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15:7-8

What is God's will? It's God's will that we prosper and be in health "as" our soul prospers.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2

God's will is that we walk in love and forgiveness.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 1:6

Disciples are not to focus on a good self-esteem as far as our good self-esteem comes from seeking the praise of God-not the praise of man or earthly rewards.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? John 5:44