Everyone who prays expect to get their prayers answered. Why do so many people fail to receive their prayer request? The answer lies in the prayer itself. The most important question to ask yourself is this...does your prayer edify God! You can pray for anything but you must have the right heart or you will not receive anything.

The first thing you need to do is believe in the one who created prayer. You have one way to achieve this. The Bible teaches in John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. In order to get to the Father through prayer, you must become a follower of Jesus Christ. This is a free gift anyone can have. In the book of John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. If you have prayed and believed that Jesus is the Son of God, then confess him as your Lord and Savior, you will be saved. Now you are a Christian and can receive answer to prayer.

The next step is to be specific about what you are praying for. If you need a car, don't just ask God for a car. Be specific. God does not need the car, you do. What kind of car do you want. Describe the color, make, model and year. When God answers specific prayers, you know it's from God! There is no doubt at that moment that He provided for you.

The third step to answered prayer is in the faith you put behind it. In Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. You must see the thing you prayed for as if you have it already. As stated earlier with the example of the car, you must see yourself driving that car. The very one you prayed for. Imagine each day while you are on the bus, at your home or lying down to rest, you are in that car. See yourself inside the car adjusting the mirror, holding the steering wheel, etc. You must live like you have already received it! It may take a week, month or whenever God decides to provide but if you stand firm, it will happen. Romans 5:1,2 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

The last step is pray to God in the name of Jesus. Pray that he would grant you the car you need and be specific in what it is you want. Meditate on specific scripture that covers answered prayer.

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

God answers prayer but we have to pray according to Gods word. It takes time and dedication to pray for something. Anything worthwhile takes effort and God expects no less from his people.

Ben Wilson would like to invite you to post your prayers at http://christianregistry.org

Have you publicly made a decision to become a Christian? Go now and see who else has made the decision to follow Jesus as their Lord & Savior at http://christianregistry.org