5 Things that Guarantee Answers to your Prayers
Asking is an Art
The first thing that must be understood for prayer to be answered is proper protocol. God is the creator of the universe and must be approached with respect for who he is. Think for a moment... a person would not approach a bank for a loan without proper protocol. The bank expects common courtesy to be shown along with a plan on how the loan is to be repaid. On top of that it is not a quick process because of all the required personal information that must be shown on the spot before going any further. Biblical truth shows what God requires in prayer and to follow these truths will Guarantee answers to prayer. Now the answer may not always be what one wants to hear, but he does promise to answer!
1. A sinless life guarantees answer to prayer (Isaiah 66:18)
First of all a sinless life does not mean mistakes never happen because 1john 2:1 declares my little children these things write I unto you that you sin not; and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous The word if does not mean premeditation because if it did it would read when anyone sins.The word when denotes a predetermined moment of time that something will happen while the word if does not. A person who premeditates sin positions themselves outside of getting their prayers answered because Isaiah 66:18 declares "if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me". The one exception of this is a sinner praying the prayer of repentance. We find in the New Testament ... But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner (Luke 18:13)
2. Praying in faith
Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith it is impossible to please God because having no faith equals unbelief. God;s greatest passion is to be believed because faith hinges on everything in his word the bible. Romans 10:17 declares that faith comes by hearing the word of God and God's word must be the final authority and foundation to stand on when waiting on prayer to be answered. 1 John 5:14-15 declares
1 John 5:14-15
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
God's word is his will and knowing his will builds faith and confidence in approaching him for desired answers.
3. Abiding in him
No one wants to be used for what they can do for someone and neither does God. It is amazing how many people come to God when they are in trouble and when things get better they forget about him. Abiding in him has to do with relationship and the word abide means to live. A husband and wife relationship will also include their words that they express in love to one another. The two cannot be separated if the relationship is to stay strong. Real relationship of any kind must include communication. This is what Jesus was declaring in John 15:7 when he declared If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
4. Right motives
God not only looks at what we are asking for, but why we are asking for it. James 4:3 declares
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. God will never give anything for a wrong reason so one must examine their heart because that is where God looks when prayer is uttered. God does not look on the outward appearance but on the heart.
5; Attitude of Gratitude
Thank you is the practical response that will cause favor to flow. People who are thankful position themselves for other blessings.Jesus told ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priest and they were healed as they went. Nine were healed while the one who returned was made completely whole because he was willing to return to Jesus and say thank you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
