We sometimes forget that there are conditions God puts on his hearing our prayers. And maybe, just maybe we lose a desire to pray when we are not meeting those conditions. I had forgotten these requirements/didn't fully understand them but he has reminded me of them.
I'm NOT saying that you are sick/hurting/needy/ because you are sinful although, in some cases, and I believe quite possibly in my case, sin and disobedience can play a part in my/our physical, emotional, marital, family health. What I do know is that when the Lord led me back into fellowship with him and he restored me spiritually, he answered an 18yr old prayer, He healed me!
For prayers to be answered:
1. We must not have unconfessed sin in our lives. Jn 9:31
a. Which I think means first each person needs to have accepted God's gift of salvation for themselves. Personally. Confessing that they are a sinner. Realize that the payment for their sin is death and that Jesus died in their place. They need to accept Christ's sacrifice for them self, Believing that He died on the Cross for them, not for 'everyone' in only the broad sense of the word. I have done this, have you? Or is your belief a head knowledge that Jesus died on the cross. 1 John 1:9
b. As Christians, we still sin. We aren't saved from sinning, just saved from the consequences of sin. But even so we need to continue to confess our sins. James 5:16
2. We must pray believing. Matt 21:22. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
3. Obedience. Deuteronomy 28
To name a few that the Lord brought to my attention:
a. Making church a priority was the first step of obedience He asked of me. I had allowed because of my illness to let church be optional. It is NOT optional. Not if you believe that God is the Creator, Savior. Hebrews 10:25
b. Seeking the Lord and his Kingdom through prayer, scripture reading, church Matt 6:33
c. Fasting. Mark 2:18-20
b. James 5:13-16 "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. "
I'm still on this journey of learning to confess, obey and pray. And sadly, even tho I have seen what God can do, I fail.
I've seen others miss out on blessing because I was not obedient. I've denied God being glorified due to disobedience and even delayed disobedience.
But I'm also reminded that God can and does work through us when we aren't being obedient to him. We do not 'tie his hands' but we miss out on blessings. We miss out on answered prayer.
a. Which I think means first each person needs to have accepted God's gift of salvation for themselves. Personally. Confessing that they are a sinner. Realize that the payment for their sin is death and that Jesus died in their place. They need to accept Christ's sacrifice for them self, Believing that He died on the Cross for them, not for 'everyone' in only the broad sense of the word. I have done this, have you? Or is your belief a head knowledge that Jesus died on the cross. 1 John 1:9
b. As Christians, we still sin. We aren't saved from sinning, just saved from the consequences of sin. But even so we need to continue to confess our sins. James 5:16
2. We must pray believing. Matt 21:22. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
3. Obedience. Deuteronomy 28
To name a few that the Lord brought to my attention:
a. Making church a priority was the first step of obedience He asked of me. I had allowed because of my illness to let church be optional. It is NOT optional. Not if you believe that God is the Creator, Savior. Hebrews 10:25
b. Seeking the Lord and his Kingdom through prayer, scripture reading, church Matt 6:33
c. Fasting. Mark 2:18-20
b. James 5:13-16 "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. "
I'm still on this journey of learning to confess, obey and pray. And sadly, even tho I have seen what God can do, I fail.
I've seen others miss out on blessing because I was not obedient. I've denied God being glorified due to disobedience and even delayed disobedience.
But I'm also reminded that God can and does work through us when we aren't being obedient to him. We do not 'tie his hands' but we miss out on blessings. We miss out on answered prayer.
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