We all want our prayers answered the way that we request them. There are those we call prayer warriors that seem to always be able to get prayers answered in a positive way. They spend huge amounts of time in prayer. It’s a term we use for people, that we feel can get in touch with God when troubled times come. However, we all should be able to get in touch with God at any time, but the reality is that some say words, but God doesn’t hear them. There are conditions to having our prayers answered.
First, we must make sure that we have no sin in our lives that is not confessed and forsaken.
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
Barnes notes state it this way. “If I have cherished it in my soul; if I have gloated over past sins; if I am purposing to commit the sin again; if I am not willing to abandon all sin, and to be holy. Then I have retained sin in my heart.”
Second, we need to pray that God’s will is done. I John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us”
No matter what we desire, if we trust God we must also accept the fact, that God knows best. He loves us greater than anyone else ever could. His ways are not our ways and we will not always understand. We need to continually seek him, to know him so we will be able to trust him.
Third, if the previous areas are taken care of then we need to keep on asking until we get a definitive answer. There was a widow in Luke 18 whose story went like this;
Luke 18:1- 5 “And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward, he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
She was given her desires because she kept on asking!
Fourth, are you truly saved? The only prayer he will hear of the person not truly saved is, forgive me.
Now the question for you. Have you examined your heart to find and eradicate anything in your life that isn’t right with God? Do you have areas where you make excuses? Do you look at gossip as just, “telling the truth?” Exaggeration, as embellishing the story? Do you classify your sins as little and big? If you will ask God to show you areas you need to change, I promise he will reveal them to you. Are you willing to obey if he shows you those sins? Do you really want God’s will, or do you just want to make it to heaven, but live a comfortable life on this earth? Are you truly saved? Will you keep asking and not forget? If you honestly can say yes to these we can have mountain-moving prayers!
My friends, please pray and make sure your prayers will be answered.
Let’s make our prayers count!
