He Will Answer
In this life if we are believers we will believe that God will answer our prayers. While this is true like a good father he is not always going to give us exactly what we ask for, and he may provide an answer to a prayer at a time that is different from our desired time line. Also, we have to understand that if we want God to move on our behalf there are certain things that have to be in place that only we have control over which includes our relationship with God, and our level of trust in Him.
Thanking God In Advance
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Being thankful after we pray is a sign to ourselves that we are trusting in God for our situation. Praying and not believing that God will answer is a sign that we need to work on our faith and relationship with God. Being honest with ourselves is the first step towards getting our breakthrough.
Pray His Will Be Done
1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
We all want to get God’s attention and we all want God to hear us. But what we ask for has to be according to God’s will. What is God’s will? God’s will is His written word (the bible). While we do have our favorite scriptures we need to know the entire book. It does not mean you have to be able to regurgitate it word for word. You simply need to pray and study the word of God and it will get into your heart. Because while you may focus on a scripture that helps you with fear, one day you may need healing in your body and you will need the power of that word for your healing. If a whole room of treasures has been made available to you why wouldn’t you want to go into every room to see what is there.
Ask With the Right Motive
James 4: 3. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
It is very easy for us to get caught up in our problems, concerns, and issues. We feel the pain of our dilemma. Depending on the challenge there are times that can be emotionally draining. But God made His agenda about us regarding His son Jesus Christ. He didn’t think of Himself when His son died on the cross for us. He knew that none of us deserved to live and yet His grace and mercy covers us. Isaiah 64:6 says that at our best we are like filthy rags. Yet He provided a way for us to be forgiven for our sins.
Allow God to Check You
Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
This is why spending “intentional” time with God is so important. There is going to be more times than not that we will not be able to see ourselves. The problem with not allowing God to show us ourselves is that the enemy will have us in a place where we will think we are good and we are not. And we may be missing it in areas that is causing us to get in our own way and hinder our prayers to God. We can also get tricked into thinking God doesn’t care about us which is not the case. He may however need us to get out of the way so we can hear Him speaking to us.
There are times when the answer to our prayer is us needing to change in a particular area. Maybe it’s our attitude or disposition towards someone or a certain situation. Or maybe we need to forgive someone. Or it could be our overall outlook about ourselves and life itself that needs to be adjusted. The only way that we will ever find out if it is “us” that is in the way is to daily incorporate the “spotlight” on our selves and not always the situation at hand when we pray to God.
He always wants to bless us. But our position in Him is key.