The Lord appreciates our humility and not our merit or deservedness when we appear before Him. Humility in our motives, thoughts and minds grants our answer to our prayers.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” So-called believers who go about with pride must submit themselves to the Lord, show honour and glorify Him for the privileges He grants them when they approach Him in prayer.
We should also ask for wisdom to fulfil God’s purpose. Wisdom is very broad; it applies to and is required in every area of life. Thus, Solomon requested “an understanding heart to judge (the) people, (and) discern between good and bad.”
As believers, we must focus our prayers on getting the wisdom that will help us accomplish God’s purpose for our lives. “Take heed to the ministry, which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it,” Colossians 4:17. Our prayers must be devoid of selfish motives. “And seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not.” Unfortunately, most people seek their promotion, honour, benefit, and “not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”
There must be liberation and cleansing from covetousness and all other forms of sin that make our prayer potent. Our prayer, spiritual lives, request and conversation should “be without covetousness.” We should display a Christlike attitude towards our enemies. It is unscriptural for any believer to pray for the death of his or her enemies because God is not willing that anyone should perish. “But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.” We should ask for something purposeful to fulfil the will of God, judge and lead His people aright.
God wants every believer to fulfil His condition in order to possess great blessings through answered prayers. “And if thou wilt walks in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments….” The first step towards this is to get saved and live a life that confirms you as a child of God. Then you pray through for a sanctification experience and receive a new heart to love and keep God’s commandments. “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
The instruction God gave Solomon was to walk as “David did walk.” But for believers today, we are to walk as the Son of David, Jesus Christ our Lord, and follow His example. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” When we obey the word of God, pray according to His will and rely on His promises, we will enjoy “length of days, and long life, and peace.”
• Further reading (King James Version): 1 Kings 3:5 -10; James 4:3; Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 1:15; 1 Kings 3:6; Ephesians 2:4,5; Titus 3:4, 5; 1 Kings 3:7, 8; Micah 6:8; James 4:6 -10; 1 Kings 3:9; Colossians 4:17; 1 Kings 3:10,11; Jeremiah 45:5; Philippians 2:5 – 8, 21; Hebrews 13:5, 6; Luke 6:27, 35; 1 Kings 3:12, 13; 1 John 5:14, 15; 1 Kings 3:14; Leviticus 26:3 -12; Psalm 81:13 -16; Ezekiel 11:19, 20; Psalm 119:1-11; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6; Proverbs 3:1-10.
