You say your prayers are not getting answers?  Nothing seems to happen when you pray?  Maybe you are leaving out something very basic, yet very important.

A Sanctified Gripe

I have done it too many times to count.  I have gone to “pray about” something, but my “prayer time” ended up being was some sort of sanctified gripe session.  All I did was tell God all about the problem I was dealing with as if He didn’t already know.  It pretty much goes without saying that there were no answers to these “prayers.”

Ask!

Over and over again the Scriptures encourage us to make specific requests for the Lord to act on our behalf.  The Lord Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).  This is a specific request for a specific benefit.  One of my favourite Scriptures on this subject is what the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians,

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 NASU).

The word supplication refers to a specific request.  It pictures someone coming in humility to one who can resolve their situation and asking them to intervene on their behalf.  What a perfect picture of the way we are to come to the Lord with our needs.  Paul says when we do this, the peace of God will actually guard our hearts and minds, chasing away all distressing thoughts (Philippians 4:7).  We can have the calm assurance the Lord has heard our prayers and is moving to respond.  Look also at what David said in Psalm 5:3,

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (NASU)

David was eagerly watching because he was certain the Lord would answer his petitions.  He was excitedly looking to see how the Lord would bring the answer.

In Conclusion…

James said it best,

You do not have, because you do not ask.  (James 4:2 ESV)

What problem are you facing that only the Lord can resolve?  What do you need Him to do for you?  Try asking Him, very specifically, to get involved.Then you too can begin watching to see how He will answer. Making specific requests of the Lord is a great key to living in the reign.

MD