Condition for answered prayers – part 1

It is an exciting, great and rare privilege to always have our prayers answered. Regrettably, not everyone who prays receives answers; yet, this great privilege is possible and can be yours. God has given some simple conditions to be fulfilled in order to receive answers to your heart’s requests and desires. When you neglect them, there is failure and disappointment. But when you are obedient and faithful and you come with faith to the Lord in prayers, then, He grants you a happy, fruitful life. It is a great privilege to be able to pray to a mighty, powerful God. Abraham, Samuel, Elijah, Daniel and the Lord Jesus Christ prayed and received answers to their prayers.

Solomon built a magnificent temple. At the dedication, he acknowledged the fact that no matter how magnificent a temple might be, if prayers are not being answered in such a temple, the beauty of the temple is in vain. No matter how exciting a church’s worship is, if prayers are not being answered there, the worship is in vain. Hence, he prayed: “Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee: That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place,” (2 Chronicles 6:19,20).

Though the whole earth belongs to the Lord, God still chosen some people. Amid them, He answers prayers. Sometimes, when heaven appears to be shut up against us, it may not be because Satan is so mighty and powerful, it may be that God, for some obvious reasons, has done it. Pestilence and hardship that assail our lives sometimes may not be due to evil activities of a herbalist or an enemy somewhere. They may be from God to sound alarm to His straying people, to recover them from the error of their ways.

God hates pride or arrogance. But if we will humble ourselves, pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, then, He will hear us and heal our land. The Lord wants to answer our prayers, but first, He wants us to check up our attitudes, our regards or disregards for His commandments.

Are there some things on your mind or some requests in your heart that you want to present to God in prayer? The Lord has so many promises of answer to prayers that no matter what part of the Bible you read, you can be rest assured that God loves you and wants to answer your prayers. There is the promise of answered prayer and God’s guidance in every area of our lives including marriage, family and career, among others. The precious promises of God shows His willingness and readiness to answer our prayers and gives us the assurance that we will receive answers when we pray. If we will fulfill the simple conditions of answers to our prayers; if we will turn away from evil, fault-finding, high-handedness and oppressions, false accusation. If we abide in the Lord, keep His commandments, if we will treat our spouses and children with tenderness, gentleness and love, the Lord will answer our prayers.

The Lord wants to answer our prayers, but we will need to pray in accordance with His will. God’s will is very broad and covers every area of our lives including our happiness, healing, righteousness and fullness of joy. Everything we need and God has willed everything we need to us and He is willing to fulfill His promises.

• Further Reading (King James Version): 2 Chronicles 7:12-14; Isaiah 1:3,4,15,16-19. Isaiah 58:9-14; John 15:7; 1 John 3:21,22; 5:14,15; Matthew 21:21,22; 1 Peter 3:7,12.