Keys to Answered Prayers
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Mathew 7:7-8
Prayer is not a religious ceremony, but communion with God. Prayer is asking God to intervene in a given situation on the basis of His word. God, the Almighty; the Creator of heaven and earth, in all His power and all His majesty, stops and listens when you pray. Because He has given mankind earthly license for heavenly interference.
Prayer is one of the most important rights God has given His Children. The scripture says very simply; “For everyone who asks receives”. But in its simplicity also lies one truth: we must ask aright. Therefore, knowing how to pray is as vital as the need to pray. For, except we know how to pray in the God-given way, we can be certain that we cannot receive from Him.
Keys to Answered Prayers
1. Enter with Praise and thanksgiving: - “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” Psalms 100:4
Ever before we make our request to the Father, His High praise must be on our lips. Prayer must be preceded by praises; because, there are heavenly gates, and it takes praise to unlock them.
2. Come without doubt or unbelief – “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:6-7
While unbelief is the opposite of faith, doubt is a state of our mind in suspension between faith and unbelief. Our faith is only as strong as the corresponding action. I may believe that my chair is strong enough to support my weight, but I can't be fully convinced of this until I put the question to the test by sitting down. Similarly, our faith and trust in God is irrelevant until we are committed to step all-out and act on these convictions.
“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT
3. Be Specific - “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:15
Prayer has to be specific. Identify your need, so you can present your case with precision. One of the reason God want us to be specific is, so that we will have no difficulty assigning the glory to Him when the answer comes. Mark 10:46-52.
4. Ask according to His will - “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15
God’s will for us is always good. He has no desire to put you under any plague or bondage. His will is that you lack no good thing. It is important you have a settled mind concerning this matter of God’s will. Once you’ve identified your need, then dig into the word and find the promise that covers your particular need. You can not miss it when you pray this way.
5. Ask in Faith - “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Mathew 21:21-22
You have identified your need and have also found the promise that covers your need. Now you are ready to ask. Ask in Faith; because God deals with us on the basis of faith. Your weeping can not move God to act; it is your faith that calls heaven to act on your behalf.
6. Ask in Jesus’ name - “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you.” John 16:23
All prayer must be made in the name of Jesus. The use of the name of Jesus is the only authorized signature that endorses your prayer and makes it acceptable in heavenly bank. When you ask, never make the mistake of asking for Jesus’ sake. Ask for your sake but in Jesus name!