THE SECRET OF ANSWERED PRAYER
1. CONVERSATION WITH GOD
How can we be sure God hears us when we pray?
"Then you will call upon me and come and PRAY TO
ME, and I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. You will seek me
and find me when you seek me with all your heart." -
Jeremiah 29:12, 13.
What assurance did Jesus give that He will hear and
answer our prayers?
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and
you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
-Luke 11:9.
Prayer can become a way of life for the Christian.
"PRAY CONTINUALLY; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
How can we "pray continually"? Do we have to stay on
our knees all the time or constantly repeat phrases of
adoration or petition? Of course not. But we are to live so
closely in touch with Jesus that we feel free to speak to
Him anytime, anywhere.
"In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business
engagement, we may send up a petition to God and plead
for divine guidance. . . . We should have the door of the
heart open continually and our invitation going up that
Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in the
soul."- Steps to Christ, p. 99.
Don't just rush through a list of requests when you pray.
Wait. Listen. A little prayerful reflection can greatly
enrich your relationship with God.
"Come near to God and he will come near to you." -James
4:8.
The closer we come to Jesus, the more we're able to
experience His presence. So keep within speaking
distance of Jesus, and don't worry about saying the right
words. Just talk honestly and openly. Talk about
everything:
- about forgiveness for our sins (1 John 1:9),
- increased faith (Mark 9:24),
- the necessities of life (Matthew 6:11),
- healing from suffering and disease (James 5:15),
- and the outpouring of the Spirit (Zechariah 10:1).
- nothing is too small to pray about. "Cast all your
anxiety on him because he cares for you." -1 Peter
5:7.
Our Savior is interested in every detail of our lives. His
heart warms when our hearts reach out to Him in love and
faith.
3. PRIVATE PRAYER
Most of us have things we hesitate sharing even with our
closest friends.
So God invites us to unburden ourselves in private prayer:
one-on-one with Him.
It's not that He needs any information. The Almighty
knows our secret fears, hidden motives, and buried
resentments better than we do ourselves.
But we need to open up our hearts to the One who knows
us intimately and loves us infinitely.
When we pray, Jesus, our High Priest, is near to help us:
"We have one who has been TEMPTED IN EVERY
WAY, JUST AS WE ARE-yet was without sin. Let us
then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our
time of need." -Hebrews 4:15, 16.
Do you feel anxious, stressed-out, guilty? Lay it out
before the Lord. He can then supply our every need.
Should we have a special place for private prayer?
"When you pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who . . . will reward you." -Matthew
6:6.
In addition to praying when walking in the street, working
on the job, or enjoying a social gathering, every Christian
should have a time set aside each day for personal prayer
and Bible study. Make your daily appointment with God
at the time when you feel most alert and can concentrate
the best.
4. PUBLIC PRAYER
Joining with others in prayer creates a special bond and
invites God's power in a special way.
"For where two or three come together in my name, there
am I with them." -Matthew 18:20.
One of the greatest things we can do as a family is to
develop a prayer life together.
Show your children that we can take our needs to Him
directly.
SEVEN SECRETS OF ANSWERED PRAYER
When Moses prayed, the Red Sea parted.
When Elijah prayed, fire came down from heaven.
When Daniel prayed, an angel shut the mouths of
ravenous lions.
The Bible presents us with many exciting accounts of
answered prayer. And it recommends prayer as the way to
tap into the mighty power of God. Jesus promises:
"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do
it." -John 14:14.
Yet some prayers seem to go unheeded. Why? Here are
seven principles that will help you pray more effectively:
(1) Keep close to Christ.
"IF YOU REMAIN IN ME and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." -John
15:7.
When we make our relationship with God a priority and
keep in touch with Him, we'll be listening and looking for
answers to our prayers that, otherwise, might go
undetected.
(2) Keep trusting God.
"If you BELIEVE, you will receive whatever you ask for
in prayer." -Matthew 21:22.
To believe, or have faith, means that we're really looking
to our heavenly Father to supply our need. If you're
troubled by a lack of faith remember that our Savior
performed a miracle for the man who pled in desperation:
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" -Mark
9:24.
(3) ALLOW GOD’S WILL TO PREVAIL .
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that
if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, he
hears us." -1 John 5:14.
Remember that God wants to teach us, as well as give us
things, through prayer. So sometimes He says, "No";
sometimes He turns us in another direction. Prayer is a
means of getting more and more in touch with God's will.
We need to be sensitive to God's responses and learn from
them. Keeping track of specific requests and what
happens as a result is a great help.
The Holy Spirit will help you zero in on the right mark:
"The Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with
God's will" (Romans 8:27). Remember that our will
would always coincide with God's will if we could see as
He does.
(4) Wait patiently on God.
"I WAITED PATIENTLY for the LORD; he turned to me
and heard my cry." -Psalm 40:1.
ISAIAH40: 31 “ …They that wait upon the lord shall
renew their strength…”
The main point here is to keep your focus on God, keep
your focus on His solution. And don't ask God for support
one minute and then try to drown your troubles in
pleasure-seeking the next. Wait patiently on the Lord; we
badly need that discipline.
(5) Don't hang on to any sin.
"If I had CHERISHED SIN IN MY HEART, the Lord
would not have listened." -Psalm 66:18.
Known sin short-circuits the power of God in our lives; it
separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2 “Behold, the Lord’s
hand is not short that it cannot save, neither His ear deaf
that it cannot hear, “But your iniquities (sins) have
separated you from your God, that He will not hear”).
You can't hang onto sin with one hand and reach out for
divine help with the other. Sincere confession and
repentance solves the problem.
If we're not willing to allow God to free us from evil
thoughts, words, and deeds, our prayers won't be effective.
"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with
wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your
pleasures." -James 4:3.
God isn't going to answer "yes" to selfish prayers.
Keep your ears open to God's law, His will, and He will
keep His ears open to your petitions.
"If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers
are detestable." -Proverbs 28:9.
(6) Feel the need of God.
God responds to those who ask for His presence and
power in their lives.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled." -Matthew 5:6.
(7) Persist in prayer.
Jesus illustrated the need to persist in our petitions by
telling the story of a very persistent widow who kept
coming to a judge with her request. At last the judge said
in exasperation, "Because this widow keeps bothering me,
I will see that she gets justice." Then Jesus concluded:
"Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones,
who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting
them off?" (Luke 18:5-7).
Discuss all your needs, hopes, and dreams with God.
Ask for particular blessings, for help in time of need.
Keep seeking, and keep listening, until you learn
something from God's response.
2 Chronicles 7:14;
“ If my people who are called by my name shall
humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and
turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
Heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their
land.”
