Very often I come across people who say to me, “Man of God, for five years now I’ve prayed for this particular thing but no answer. I even added fasting to my prayer but still to no avail. Can you tell me why my prayers are not answered.?” My response usually is simple. There’s a right way and a wrong way to prayer. If we pray right, our prayer will be answered, but if we pray wrong the answer could be delayed or denied. The apostle John writes;
There is a right way to approach God in prayer and there is equally a wrong way that will make our prayer go unanswered according to John. Apostle James said it this way, “You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly”. No matter how sincere our prayer may be, God is under no obligation to honor that prayer, if it is not “according to His will.”
Here are three important keys to receiving answers to prayer:
Prayer must be heartfelt.
A heartfelt prayer is a sincere prayer coming from your heart like the way Hannah and Elijah prayed. The kind of prayer that makes tremendous power available is what I’m talking about. This is not just any prayer said from the head or read out of a book; and that’s why the Bible says, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5:16 AMPC). Make your request from your heart and have strong expectations of the Lord, then your prayer will have meaning before the Throne of God.
2. Pray in Jesus’ name.
The name of Jesus is the access code to the throne of God. Jesus Christ said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23) Using the name of Jesus implies that we approach the Father favored with the righteousness of Christ, and having access to kingdom privileges and provisions as joint-heirs with Christ.
3. Prayer must be based on God’s word.
A legal dimension to prayer described by the prophet in Isaiah 41:21(AMPC) reads, “Produce your cause [set forth your case], says the Lord. Bring forth your strong proofs, says the King of Jacob.”
Using God’s word as a basis for prayer guarantees answers. God’s word is His bond and pledge; it cannot be broken, nor refused by God Himself. Without a strong base from God’s word, we will lack the boldness of faith before God and no one can receive from God without unflinching faith.
Son of God, a heartfelt passionate prayer done in the name of Jesus Christ, and founded on God’s word will produce powerful answers to prayer. Let’s do it the way God prescribes, that we may receive the full complement of answered prayers.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You always hear me as I pray according to Your will, and I thank You that all my requests are granted, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scriptural References:
1 Samuel 1:9-19
James 4:2-3
John 15:7