Prayer is not only begging for God’s intervention, but also a channel of acknowledging the greatness of God. Prayer is a vital medium of getting supernatural results. Some people’s prayers go unanswered due to some irregularities. But, don’t lose hope in prayers to God.
According to a 2014 Pew Research center survey, 55% of Americans said they pray every day. 21% said they pray weekly and 23% said they seldom pray. It is interesting to discover that Americans ages 65 and older are far more likely than adults under 30 to say they pray daily (65% vs 41%).
I want you to agree with me that God who created ears is not a deaf Being. Thus, He hears when we speak. The book of Isaiah chapter 59 verse 1 and 2 says: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
This post will show the important ways of presenting your requests to God for quick answers.
Use Distraction-Free Venue
If your prayers at public centers (such as church etc.) are not answered, then consider a private place. God answers the prayer of those who speak to Him with an undivided attention.
For instance, an earthly father would never take his son seriously if the boy requests for a new bicycle while watching Tom and Jerry (cartoons). The boy is expected to avoid distractions, look straight into his father’s face and present his request.
I got this style of prayer from Jesus and it is working great for me. Matthew chapter 14 verses 23 say: “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”
Jesus prayed in the temple and public gatherings, but He always retreats to private places for uninterrupted prayers… This style of prayer plays a vital role in the success of Jesus on earth.
Don’t get tired of prayer! You might be using a wrong venue filled with distractions. Find a place of prayer where your heart and attention will not be carried away from the God’s presence.
Fix Fasting
Prayers you have done for a while without an answer may fall into the category of prayer and fasting. Not all prayers need fasting, but some requests that need instant supernatural miracle will require such. Jesus Christ did not start His public ministration without fasting and prayer.
He asked God to bless Him with great authority, wisdom, power of healing and miracles. And God answered His prayers without hesitation. “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing…” (Luke 4:1 & 2)
Jesus’ disciples tried to emulate Him, but they couldn’t due to a prayerful lifestyle that lack essential fasting. “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
So I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him… Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief… “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
If your prayer requires a spectacular outcome for people to see, then it is wise to fast.
Note: Don’t wound yourself with ‘almighty doctrines’ because you want to fast and pray. Jesus says: “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.” (Matthew 6: 16 & 17)
Call the Right Name in Your Prayer
Prayer is all about communication between you and God. But your relationship with God will be stronger if you call Him by His rightful names. When praying to God, call Him JEHOVAH, I AM WHO I AM, God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob, Prince of Peace… (Exodus 3:14 & 15, Isaiah 9:6)
You cannot call Him in reverence and stay the same. When you call His holy name, your prayers would receive feedback.
At this point, I want to advice you not to attach the name of God to any man (pastor, overseer or founder of a ministry) because the minister might not be serving the Almighty God.
I remembered a true life story of a female gospel musician in Nigeria. She always mentions the name of her pastor as a suffix to God’s name. She sang in her albums that it is the god of her pastor that saved and blessed her life…she thought she was making reference to God Almighty.
After the pastor died, she and everyone discovered that he belonged to a famous cult in his home town. And the false pastor was buried by his cult members. This scandal affected the reputation of the gospel musician.
If you don’t abuse the Lord by calling Him names He never told you He is, then He will listen to your prayers.
Have a Firm Faith
Don’t waste your time praying, if you discover some level of bias in your heart. Such prayers will hit the rock. A vital role you need to play for your prayer to be answered is having faith in the power of God.
For instance, Jesus ensured that the faith of the blind men corresponded with their prayers before He answered their request. (Jesus is not a magician). “…two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”… And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matthew 9:27-29)
Jesus emphasizes faith as a key reason for prayers to be answered. Matthew chapter 17 verse 20 says: “So Jesus said to them… if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Do Away with Materialism
A lot of prayers go unanswered because of the idolatry medium involved in it. The false pastors and prophets introduced the practice of materialism into the Christendom and this had affected genuine relationship with God.
Some church doctrines encourage their members to always pray with the aid of materials such as; candle, water, soap, handkerchief, oil, rosary etc. Such prayers cannot be answered by God. Though, am aware of devil’s manipulations of “answering” such idolatry prayers at times.
There is no verse in the Bible, where God instructed us to come before Him with such materials. I studied the prayer life of Jesus and discovered that the only instrument He used during His prayer is faith. So, if you believe in the power of Jesus, then do not put any material (idol) between your faith and God.
The danger in such practice is that your faith would cling to the soap, oil or handkerchief (and not to Jesus alone).
Stop the purchase of ‘spiritual materials’ from these dubious false bishops, pastors and prophets. They are swindling you of your hard-earned money. Jesus says: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
A true man of God will freely show you the right way to pray just as Jesus thought His disciple how to pray in Luke chapter 11 verses 1 to 4.
I am a living witness to tell you that God answers prayers. Though, He won’t answer any prayer which is against His will. Thus, always worship God in spirit and in truth, so that your entire prayer requests will not contradict His plan for your life.
