One basic truth to rely upon in our relationship with God is that He cannot lie, and He that cannot lie has promised that He will always give answers to our prayers. So, as sure as we believe He cannot lie, so sure shall we also believe that when we pray, we shall receive answers. We are encouraged to pray because of God’s readiness to hear. God is called the hearer of prayers, because He hears the prayers of those that sincerely seek Him. He hears the prayers of those with broken heart and faith. Although the answer to the prayer may not be seen immediately,petitioners must understand that it is not ignored, and that it will be answered in the best way that will bring blessings. And if it is delayed further, it is to try his faith and to see whether the blessings are earnestly desired. That is not to say it will not be answered, for as long as it is offered in faith, it must be answered.

Heb.11:6 says: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Faith is the key that unlocks answers to prayers. Any prayer offered in faith is effectual, capable and able to evoke God’s mercy to deliver and heal any person. The Lord assured us of answers to prayers made with true faith in Him. Therefore, when we pray, we must have conviction that the answer shall come.

The disciples’ failure to heal the son of a certain man, who was a lunatic and who was brought to them for healing was not because of any error in intercessory prayers, rather, it was due to their own failure to appropriate faith in their prayers. The case of the Shunammite woman will continue to re-echo. The woman, armed with faith, walked to Elisha and declared that it was well with her child, despite the fact that the child was already dead. But because she knew that her prayer for the revival of her child would be answered, she gave a positive answer of faith when asked about the condition.

When Jesus Christ on earth, a relation of a man with palsy demonstrated true faith, when they smuggled the bedridden man through the ceiling into the inner room, where Jesus was teaching so that he would be healed. The sick man’s relation strongly believed that if Jesus could see him, he would be healed. And it was done according to their faith.

Matt. 9: 2 states:“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

When you armed your prayer with strong faith, not wavering, God honours that prayer. It is your attitude and state of righteousness that will determine when the answer to your prayer will get to you. But assuredly, God has given answer to that prayer of faith you made. Jesus said: “Therefore, I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” (Mk 11: 24). God is all sufficient and is able to supply all the wants of the supplicant, if they call upon Him. Therefore, the issue of unanswered prayer cannot be attributed to God’s refusal to give answer, but to our failure to do the needful during prayers.

Prayer is the key that opens both God’s heart and hand, yet not every person or every prayer shall find acceptance with God. The person praying must be one with a pure heart, and doer of God’s will. Matt. 5:8 says:“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Those who love God with all their hearts and pure motiveswill not have their prayers ignored. When there is purity of heart and you pray with faith, the only thing that can happen is that your prayers shall be answered because God will appear in your situations. God demands that the heart, the affections, the mind are purified, because these are the fountains from whence flow the heart’s desires in prayers. A pure heart produces an uncontaminated prayer that conforms to God’s will and which must be done.

Jere 29:12-14 says:“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

God directed that we call upon Him in prayer and not to another deity, prophet, angel or saint. Our prayers must be directed to God through Jesus Christ alone and not through any other creature. We must beware of how we call those creatures we choose after our own fancy, and how we consider our fancies and dreams to be a directive from God. We must not be ignorant of satanic deception. Our God is a jealous God and will not share His glory with any creature. If we want a wholesome blessing for an answer to our prayers, we must come to Godwith humility of mind and a contrite spirit and above all, believe He will answer us and restore our former glory in Jesus’ name.

Mark 9:23 says: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
The God of the Chosen can do anything we pray for, if only we can believe. All things are possible to believers who pray to God with strong faith. I, therefore, implore you to make prayer your business this year and He will answer you; for He is the prayer answering God.

Beloved, one thing that is so sure and which makes our faith tick is that all sincere prayers made with a contrite spirit receive answers from God, if the supplicants can only believe. If we have confidence, it is easy for Him to help us. In our weakness, we should go to God in prayer, andeven though we may have no strength, His response will strengthen us and make all things easy for us if we truly believe in Him.

Mark 11:21-24 says: “And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

I want you to understand that if you pray and believe, you will get answers to your petitions. Righteousness seasoned with faith produces great and quick result. You must, therefore, keep away from sin, as it hinders answers to prayers. No matter how little a sin may appear, it is destructive. Sin such as faithlessness, unbelief, unforgiveness, complaints, murmuring, bitterness, among others, which have not been repented of could be stumbling blocks to our prayers.

Isaiah 59:1-3 says:“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.”

If God withdraws from His people or refuses to answer their prayers and leaves them in darkness and affliction, it is not because He is unwilling to hear their prayers, or want of power to save them, but because of their unaddressed iniquities and restitution. No one prays in sin and expects his or her prayers to be answered. Sin provokes God to anger. It makes Him withdraw His gracious presence from us. Sin separates us not only from all good, but exposes us to evil, which is the very essence of the curse. So, if you must pray, it must be with clean hands and conscience devoid of any iota of sin. You must confess and renounce all known and unknown sins, flee from all appearances of evil, then when you pray He will surely meet you at the points of your needs.

The Lord has assured us that whenever we call upon Him, He will answer us.
John 14:13-14 says:“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

God glorifies Himself through Christ, by answering prayers brought to Him through the name of Jesus. Our confirmation of Christ’s union with the Father is manifested in the efficacy of prayer made in His name. This is the great advantage we have over those that have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour. All petitions to God by every genuine Christian who follows the step of our Lord Jesus Christ recieve answers. God cannot lie and if this is true, please ask and the Lord will do it for you. Have you asked anything? Ask that your joy may be fulfilled. Psalm 50:15 says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Prayer is like a covenant entered into with God. If we are in distress and could muster the energy, no matter how little, and call upon Him in prayer, assuredly, He will answer us. He never withholds from them that asked. He feeds the young ravens, but first they call upon Him. Everybody has need for prayers. As strong as David was, he never depended upon his power to defeat his enemies, rather he depended upon the power of prayer and what God can do and he was never disappointed. Abraham was fabulously rich in his days, but he still prayed. As wise as Solomon was, he never depended upon his wisdom to judge God’s people rather upon prayers and he was able to triumph. The same with the Apostles and even our Lord Jesus Christ all prayed and got answers. So, what is it that has been troubling you all these days? If you can make amends, humble yourself and pray today, I am assuring you that,that God will remove that mountain. God has urged us to call upon Him with a pure heart and we shall be fulfilled.