Q #12: What is the key to having God answer our prayers?
A: This question is actually being asked by someone I would describe as a lifelong Christian. One of the things I love about the Christian faith is that so many basic things can seem to take a lifetime to learn!
This question is interesting to me because, when I think about prayer and having prayers answered, I think there are a number of things in play.
The keys to seeing prayer answered, as I see it (and I am very much a student in the school of prayer):
Persevering Faith
Of course, Jesus taught a lot of things about prayer. The clearest message I hear in what Jesus taught about prayer is that effective prayer is given in total belief that it will happen and it is the kind of believing that doesn't waver and doesn't give up. If you want to learn more from Jesus about it, see parables like the mustard seed, the widow and the unjust judge, or statements like Mark 11:23, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them."
God's Will
Jesus additionally taught that effective prayers are given in concert with God's will. I don't think this necessarily means only asking things that in agreement with God's specific plan, but to ask in agreement with what, in general parameters, agrees with what God wants. For example, praying that a lost person would come to faith in Christ is in agreement with what God wants for all people. However, when we begin praying for things that merely our wishes, like that we might be rich or that we might marry a particular person or that we might become president of the United States, we begin to stray from what we know to be God's will, as revealed in scripture.
What are some things that are "God's will"? Healing, salvation, blessing, spiritual growth, the health of marriage, the prospering of our children, etc. One of the greatest sources of inspiration and clarity about God's will is the Lord's prayer. It can be found in Matthew 6:9-13.
You could likely pray the Lord's prayer every day and find new applications of how the particulars of your life fit freshly.
Agreement with Others
Finally, Jesus taught that praying and believing with others is a key to seeing prayer answered. Just look at the words of Matthew 18:19, "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."
Somehow, the power of prayer is magnified when we pray in agreement with others. Unity is a basic ingredient to effective prayer. When you are out of alignment with others relationally, powerful, successful prayer is stunted.
These are three keys that I think are the basis for seeing prayers answered. I've not gone into why people often do not see their prayers answered or why some prayers will never be answered affirmatively. That would be for other posts!
What I do think is crucial to see here is that every prayer is a request and not a command. In that sense, every prayer is answered by God in a variety of ways--yes, no, or wait.
What do you think are keys to seeing prayer answered? Comment below to move the discussion forward!
Check out more posts from the 31 Questions series on subjects as varied as marijuana, infidelity, 666, the eternal destiny of children who die, dealing with discouragement, cremation, co-habitation, baptism, suicide, and even speaking in tongues!