Psalm 65:2

“O you who hear prayer, to you all flesh will come!”

Now, when it comes to the prayer. Note that God cannot answer any prayer unless it fulfils the following:

• It is in faith – Hebrew 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 Amplified Bible

6 But without faith, it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

• It is according to his will – 1 John 5:14-15

1 John 5:14-15 Amplified Bible

14 This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose], He hears us. 15 And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.

• It is from a holy heart – Psalm 66:18

Psalm 66:18 Amplified Bible

18 If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me].

Once you ascertain that God will hear you, it is as good as saying you have the answer:

1 John 5:13-14 Amplified Bible

¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God [which represents all that Jesus Christ is and does], so that you will know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have eternal life. ¹⁴ This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose], He hears us.

Mark 11:23-24 King James Version

²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

The problem with many is that they are never sure of God’s will about them and the situation they are praying about. That is why you need to get into His word. The word of God is the will of God revealed- so to find His will about anything, go to His word.

Isaiah 45:19 Living Bible

¹⁹ I publicly proclaim bold promises; I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner so that no one can know what I mean. And I didn’t tell Israel to ask me for what I didn’t plan to give! No, for I, Jehovah, speak only truth and righteousness.

He never promised anything too good to be true, nor has God promised to give you what is not in the Bible. When you see any promise in the Bible, it belongs to only one person! HE THAT BELIEVES! THAT IS, YOU, IF YOU DARE TO BELIEVE IT.

“You are to stand on His word boldly.”

People get into all kinds of deception because they will not get into the word of God and find what He says. Unless your prayer is covered by scripture, you will not receive it. It is just like someone who does not pay tithe and believes God will rebuke the devourer from his labour. That is not answerable. He is not fulfilling the scripture. Or a brother not doing any work and asking God to bless him, what would God bless?

He is not doing anything for God to bless. And the Bible says he who does not work should not eat. See a preacher asking God to follow his preaching with signs while all he does is share testimonies and traditions. No amount of fasting and praying can get signs to follow such a thing.

Jeremiah 1:12 Amplified Bible

¹² Then the Lord said, “You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfil it.”

The Bible says in Jeremiah 1:12 that God is watching His WORD, not the preacher. God confirms the word and not your opinion.

Acts 14:3 Expanded Bible

³ [So; Therefore] ·Paul and Barnabas [They] stayed in Iconium a long time and spoke ·bravely [or boldly] for the Lord. He ·showed [testified; confirmed] that their ·message [word] about his grace was valid by giving them the power to work [miraculous] signs and ·miracles [wonders].

Acts 14:3 says God gave witness to the WORD OF HIS GRACE by signs and wonders, not to Paul and Barnabas. The amount of correct knowledge of God you have when you pray determines the level of your breakthrough.

Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing the word of God. This means that to have faith when you pray, you must stock your spirit with the word of God. The word of God gives birth to faith in God.

Ephesians 5:26-27 King James Version

²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:26 says the way the Lord Jesus purifies his church is through the washing of water by the word. The word of God is the thing that purifies your heart. So, you see the importance of the word.

Remember that two significant things cause prayer breakdowns: ignorance and wrong thinking. Ignorance gives birth to all kinds of wrong prayers, and the cure for it is the word of God. Accurate knowledge of the word removes ignorance.

Joshua 1:8 Amplified Bible

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.

Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible

² And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Deep and constant meditation on the “word of God” causes your mind to become renewed to the truths of the New Testament. A renewed mind is the best aid to faith and prayer. Doing this takes time and effort, but if you pay the price, you will enjoy the rewards.