Answered Prayer

QUESTION: Answered prayer -- Is it possible?

ANSWER:

Answered prayer is not only possible, but it is also assured to the righteous: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results” (James 5:16). Righteousness is more than a lifestyle. More so, it means depending on Jesus Christ for an answer to every situation you face. Prayer, the Christian’s most powerful resource, is communion with God in every aspect of life.

During prayer times, remember to praise Him as the One who hears and answers. Remember to give thanks often that He is not far away but always near, providing for you, fighting your battles, directing you.

In John 16:23-24, Jesus says, “. . . The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask Him, and He will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” This principle is why we often hear prayers beginning or ending with “In Jesus name, I pray. . .” Jesus Christ intercedes for us before God the Father.

Verses promising God’s attention:

• Ephesians 3:19-20 says, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”
  
  
• 1 John 5:14-15 says, “And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.”
  
  
• Psalm 66:16-20 says, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer and did not withdraw his unfailing love from me.”

The Lord promised to answer the prayers of the prophet Jeremiah: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV). Of course, God can provide for us without our asking. But when we ask, we are acknowledging that He alone is God and that we cannot accomplish anything in and of ourselves. With God, all things are possible. He is always there, waiting for us to turn to Him with complete faith, love, and submission.