Praying prayers that God can answer

TEXT:

‘We are sure of this that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.  And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us’ – 1 John 5:14-15 TLB

THOUGHT:

Answered prayer is one of the most thrilling experiences for a Christian. That the God of the universe takes time to intervene on earth is truly amazing. Not just concentrating on nations and their leaders, but ordinary people. Isaiah 40:15 describes the nations as a drop in the bucket, so how much smaller and insignificant a human being, yet Jesus said, ‘The very hairs on your head are all numbered’ – Luke 12:7. The Bible encourages us to pray to the God who is listening. What can help us to pray prayers that God can answer?

WHAT TO AVOID WHEN PRAYING

• Asking God to do what He has told US to do

Many Christians ask God to send in the lost, but we are commanded to go out to reach them. Also churches pray for God to send in the money, while Christians are sitting there unwilling to give their tithes and offerings. We sing, “Shine, Jesus shine!” but Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world. Let YOUR light shine’ – Matthew 5:14-16.

• Holding unforgiveness – ‘When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too’ – Mark 11:25 NLT.

How many churches are divided by unforgiveness? When we can speak freely with everyone in the church, we will find it easier to speak to God. Peter warned married couples to maintain a good relationship, ‘so that your prayers may not be hindered’ – 1 Peter 3:7. When we realise how much God has forgiven us, it will make it easier to forgive others.

• Asking God to act in a way that is against His nature

God will not bless sin but His love, grace and forgiveness allows Him to bless the sinner. When Christians ask for prayer concerning decisions and lifestyles that are against His Word, those prayers will remain unheard and unanswered. King Saul complained, ‘God has departed from me and does not answer me any more’. The reason given: ‘You did not obey the voice of the Lord’ – 1 Samuel 28:15-18.

• Informing God

Some Christians pray and include all the details to inform God but He knows it all anyway. What they are really doing is informing those praying with them, but Christians soon lose interest listening to prayers like that. Instead worship God first, then make your request clearly and concisely, ending with thanksgiving for the answer.

HELPS TO ENSURE GOD CAN ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS

• Find scriptures that turn your hope into faith – ‘If we pray according to His will, He hears us’

All of us have hopes and dreams but to turn them into faith there must be a scriptural basis. If you are not sure which scriptures to use, let the Holy Spirit guide you. Then you can boldly say, “Lord you have promised I can have this, now let it be to me according to your word!” – Luke 1:38

• Pray your own prayers, not someone else’s

Many repeat the Lord’s Prayer parrot-like but Jesus gave it to teach us how to pray, not to use it as a vain repetition. Jesus taught, ‘When you pray, say!’ Many Christians do not like to pray out loud, but that is exactly what God wants. How can anyone say “Amen” to a prayer if they cannot hear what is being prayed? Of course some prayers are private and should be kept that way, but prayer groups need everyone to feel confident enough to pray out loud. Public prayers should be short, sharp and to the point. Just as any parent loves to hear their child start to speak, so God wants to hear our voices too.

• Allow your emotions to accompany your prayers

Prayers without any feeling are cold, like many prayer meetings. It is perfectly normal and acceptable to bring our whole being into our praying, so we can use different postures, shouts, tears and even anger when presenting our prayers to God. The Bible describes how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, ‘He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood’ – Luke 22:44 NLT.  ’In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God’ – Hebrews 5:7 GNT.

I prefer to walk around when I am praying; others sit or kneel. The important thing is to put feeling into praying that let’s God know we really care about what we are praying for.

• Submit to God’s will – ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done’ – Luke 22:42

The most important thing is God’s will. The Lord’s Prayer states, ‘Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’ – Matthew 6:9-13.

A man once said to me, “You Christians cannot lose. If you get what you are praying for, you say it is God’s will, but if you do not get it, you still say it is God’s will!” I replied, “That is a great position to be in!”

If you have neglected prayer recently, it is time to reconnect with the living God and let Him encourage you with answers to your prayers. When He answers do not forget to say, “Thank you!”