God is delighted to answer the prayers of believers who earnestly seek His will.
The privilege of prayer rests on our relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Only those who have been born again are members of God’s family (John 3:3-6)—they can claim Him as their Father and know He will respond to their supplications. He makes no such commitment to unbelievers. The one exception is the sinner who comes in repentance and faith to ask for forgiveness and receive Christ as Savior and Lord.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses three verbs to describe prayer: ask, seek, and knock. Notice the progression in intensity from a simple request to an intensive search and then to deliberate action. Prayer is more than merely making requests of God. It involves seeking His will to guide our entreaties. And it also includes the more physical action of exploring options to help determine the Lord’s mind. When we make efforts to pray this way, God will give an answer, show us His will, and open the door that leads to His good, acceptable, and perfect will (Romans 12:2).
Instead of trying various methods of prayer prescribed in books or the media, ask the Lord to teach you to pray the way Jesus modeled. Then put into practice what you learn, and wait in assurance for His answer.
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
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