How To Receive Answers From God

How to receive an answer from God is a question all of us have asked in our Christian walk. And the simple answer is- asking is required to receive an answered prayer from God, and obedience is the key that opens the ear of God.

I’m sure many of us have thought to ourselves “I have no reason to pray for healing or for anything for that matter because God knows what’s  going on in my life, He will help me if He wants to.” 

This is an incorrect assumption as we learn in Scripture.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along… A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”(Mark 4:35-41)

In this account, Jesus knew what was going on. He was right there with the disciples in the boat as it was being tossed about by the wind and filling up with water. He didn’t intervene however, until the Apostles asked Him to do something.

When we pray, we are showing the Lord that we believe and trust that He is capable of helping us in our time of need.

 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. “(James 5:16b NIV)

Asking is Required To Receive Answered Prayer

Answered prayer can be a powerful witness of the Holy Spirit within us. We must first believe that the Word of God is real, active and powerful. Next, we need to believe that God gave us His Word, much like a parent gives their word to a son/daughter to do something for the child. God however, never changes His mind, and His written Word was given to us to use.

We can pray, “Lord you said by your stripes I was healed (Isaiah 53:5) therefore I believe your Word and agree with it and will not speak about the illness any longer because that would be agreeing that Satan has won over my body. I will stand on your Word daily quoting it and expecting it to come to pass.”

God didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves in this life, simply relying on luck. No, the Lord gave His Word and within it, countless promises to claim, if we believe and refuse to give up. .

“I would have fainted had I not known I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”(Ps 27:13)

God’s Word has creative power- yesterday, today and forever.

Memorize Scripture and use it. Say for instance: “Lord, you said  if I follow your commandments and teachings I will be blessed, my children will be blessed, my enemies will be defeated and all that I touch will prosper and succeed.” (Deut 28)

Receiving answered prayer comes more frequently after choosing to be a follower of God.

“We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.”(John 9:31)

The key statement in that verse is, “those who do His will.”  This is impossible without the Holy Spirit. The only thing God is looking for, is the choice on our part, to attempt to behave as He reveals in His Word- when we make the first move, the Holy Spirit comes in and empowers us.

Followers of the Lord, desire to align every aspect of their life with Him. They don’t purposefully engage in anything the Lord abhors, and if a slip up occurs a quick confession and desire to follow more closely is often the response.

Asking is required to receive a powerful life

^” I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead.”(Eph 1:17-19)

A inheritance is given after someone dies. Jesus died and His last will and Testament is the New Testament. This states that His children (followers) have inherited all that He describes in the Bible and that includes the ability to use His Word for a powerful prayer life.

Let’s all pray with our children daily and record our answered prayers. This will increase their reliance and trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ- and it will solidify our own trust in Him.

Food for thought

Lisa

This link brings you to my favorite Bible with excellent teaching points. Click here