The key to effectual prayers is to pray according to God’s will and not by the direction of our carnal desires or human goals and plans (1 John 5:14-15). When we walk in the center of God’s will, His Spirit and our brother Jesus intercede for us (Romans 8:27). Our prayers can move mountains because God is behind them (Numbers 11:2).
God loves us so much, that His eyes are on each of His adopted children continually, and His ears are always alert to our prayers (Psalm 34:15; 1 Peter 3:12). He loves for us to trust Him completely with all our needs and to call out to Him in our times of trouble (Proverbs 15:8).
Another key to having answered prayers is to pray with gratitude in our heart, even before they are answered, because we trust that God will deliver us through every issue we face (Philippians 4:6). Our persevering prayers are made through faith in God’s faithfulness, and we never give up or lose hope in His love for us or in His promises to us (James 1:5; Luke 18:1; Mark 11:22-24).
The third key for answered prayer is to pray with a heart that is in fellowship with our Father God (James 5:16). Sin separates us from God, and it causes Him to hide His face from us, so He will not hear us (Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:2). Yet, if we confess our sins with a repentant heart, He faithfully hears us, withholds His just judgment from us, and forgives us (1 John 1:9).
God prunes us as a branch connected to the Vine of Christ, and He purifies us from every desire to live a life in habitually sinful behavior. As we pray in the holy and powerful name of Jesus, our Christ, His forgiveness is quick and cleansing (John 14:13-14).
Another key to receive answered pray is to pray even for our enemies with the spirit of forgiveness toward our family, friends, and foes that wound us, use us, or abuse us (Mark 11:25). Forgiveness does not exempt that person from their guilt, but it frees us from the bondage to the event that caused our need to forgive.
Prayer:
Father God, it seems redundant for us to pray for something of which we know You are already aware (Matthew 6:8). We ask: why should we pray for something that You already see coming even before we do? Teach us that prayer is a great way to unify our relationship with You, because it causes us to spend time with You and to trust You as we block out the world, and our constant responsibilities and busyness.
We call on You in our days of trouble, and You deliver us, and we glorify You. In fact, Joshua prayed a prayer, which was impossible and even improbable to answer, yet You commanded the sun to stand still at His request. Even science discovered that this actually happened (Joshua 10:11-14). You know what we need, and already committed that You would supply all our needs with Your glorious riches (Philippians 4:19-21). You also promise to move mountains for us as we pray, and to walk in Your will for us (Matthew 17:20).
Thoughts for the Day:
We often pray for selfish desires with wrong motives, we reject God’s call on our life and pursue our own goals, we refuse to share our abundance with those around us who are in need, and we create idols in our life and think about them more than we think about God. These prayers are never affirmatively answered. Yet, if we pray according to God’s will for our life, He showers us with His mercy and grace, influences us with His wisdom, and helps us in every hour of our need.
- James 4:3; Proverbs 1:24-28, 21:13; Hebrews 4:16; Jeremiah 11:11-14
