Basic Principles of Getting Your Prayers Answered - #5

Ask in Faith

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."—James 1:5-8.

You can get you rprayers answered, but it is essential that you believe God's promises and develop a trust and confidence. When you have met God's conditions, then pray and believe.

Remember, it is vital that our believing be based on His Word given to us in the Bible and not on some experience. 

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #3

Allow the Holy Spirit to Assist You in Praying

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."—Romans 8:26.

• The Holy Spirit convicted and alerted us to our need of a Saviour when we were lost (John 16:7-11).
• He gave us birth into the family of God (John 3:6). 
• He came into our lives and took up abode in our bodies (Romans 8:9-11). 
• He leads us in the path that is in harmony with the Bible (Romans 8:14). 
• He fills us with His presence and power (Ephesians 5:18). 
• He manifests in our lives the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 
• And finally, He assists us in our praying (Romans 8:26).

We must be conscious of His help and allow Him to impress us with right and wrong things for which to pray. Since He knows what God's will is, the Holy Spirit does not permit us to continue to pray for things outside God's plan, but He will impress us as to what to pray for and when to pray.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #2

Pray According to His Will.

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."—I John 5:14-15.

Be careful that you don't let your personal desires lead you astray from God's will. The power of suggestion from others also must be carefully guarded against. Every experience must be tested and analyzed to make sure of His will.

Someone has suggested six tests that will prove God's will in a given situation:

• The test of Scripture. Does it agree with the Bible?
• The test of facts. Do I have enough light on the matter to decide?
• The test of motives. Is the true reason behind my action right and proper?
• The test of time. Is it just a passing fancy that will fade away, or is it a permanent need?
• The test of opportunity. What about open and closed doors?
• The test of peace. Do I have a settled peace about a given matter?

The will of God can be obvious. The salvation of the soul is always His will. (II Pet. 3:9). Second, it is God's will that all His children be sanctified, dedicated Christians. (I Thess. 4:3). Third, it is God's will that we live clean, separated lives. (Rom. 12:2). Fourth, it is God's will that we be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18). 

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles of Getting Your Prayers Answered - #1

Prayer isn't complicated.
Any believer can talk to God and get results. There is no magic formula, no secret code. The Bible simply says "Ask" but it has a dual meaning. It means to ask one time; it also means to keep on asking. We are to ask and ask, and we will keep on receiving and receiving.

The following blog posts will give some basic requirements given in the Bible for getting from God what you ask.

The first one we share today:

A Right Relationship with the Lord

Jesus said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). It doesn't say it might be done but it shall be done.

Oliver B. Greene said,
"There are two conditions here that must be met if we expect God to keep His promise: First - "If ye abide in me" and Second - "If...my words abide in you."

Abiding in Christ means full surrender of heart, spirit and body. John R. Rice points out that those who are 'wrapped up' with Christ and His Word will want what Christ wants and thus be able to ask for the desires of their hearts.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.