"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9).
This verse assures us that if we ask it shall be given to us. However, sometimes it appears that God is not hearing our petitions because what we have asked for has not come to pass. The question I would like to address today is 'What must we do to have our prayers answered'.
The following Bible verses provide possible reasons that may be hindering our prayers from being heard and answered.
- But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isa.59:2)
- If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Ps.66:18)
- If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Prov.28:9)
- The Lord is far from the wicked, but hears the prayers of the righteous. (Prov.15:29)
Brothers and Sisters, let us search our hearts to find out whether there is any iniquity in our lives that is preventing our prayers from being answered. Please ask Holy Spirit to bring light to anything we must lay done. If we repent, Jesus is faithful to forgive us our sins and remove them from us as far as the east is from the west. We serve a faithful God who loves us and who wants to answer our prayers.
Here are a few pointers that lead to answered prayers:
- We have to keep the commandments of the Father. "And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases Him" (1John3:22).
- We have to repent for and eliminate willful sin from our lives to become righteous. "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effect" (Jam.5:16).
- Forgive others. "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (Luke 6:27-28).
- Our petitions must be aligned to God's commandments, which encapsulate His will for us. "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us" (1John5:14).
Brothers and Sisters, be encouraged. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them" (Ps.145:18-19).
My Prayer
Father AhaYah, thank you that we do not have to be anxious about anything. Today we rejoice knowing that You hear our petitions. Father we remain patient during the tribulation and afflictions we are facing because we trust that You will answer our petitions in Your perfect timing. Father we constantly praise You and give You thanks. We pray this in the name of Holy YashaYah. Aman.