THE A-B-C STEPS TO GET YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED BY GOD
What are the top three things you have been asking God to do for you? Think about that for a moment. What are the contents of your prayers? What are the things you wish God would just answer as soon as possible?
Ponder for a minute.
Ask yourself, "What do I want the Almighty God to give me?"
What steps should we take to get our prayers positively answered by God? What are the biblical steps to see our prayers a reality? Perhaps, you have prayed, "Guide me, Lord!" This is this writer’s prayer today. There could be no better guidance than the WORD of God, illumined by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this Christian writer has undertaken to study Luke 18:1-8, in the Parable of the Persistent Widow, where Jesus tells us how to pray. Also, the verses tell us three principles we need to remember to see our prayers answered:
1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’" 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Revised Standard Version, RSV)
From these verses, three principles can be found that if observed with caution and faithfulness would make our prayers a realization. These steps are in no way manipulations of God. They are what God teaches in the Holy Bible. These principles have an acronym of A-B-C. If you know the alphabet, (which all of us does! Or you would not be reading this!) you will surely find these principles easy to remember.
Agreement with God’s Word
Principle number one starts with letter A. The principle is "Agreement with God’s Word." (Or, also Accordance with God’s Word) What we are praying for needs to be in agreement with God’s revealed will, in His Holy Word, so that we are sure that it is backed up by God’s approval. What’s the sense of asking God for something that we know He will not approve?
In the parable of the persistent widow, "agreement with God’s Word" is seen in verse 3: "vindicate me against my adversary." This widow’s cry is in agreement with Psalm 140:12: I know that the LORD maintains the cause of the afflicted, and executes justice for the needy.
Remember the prayers of Jesus in Luke 22:42: "Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (italics mine) Also, the Lord’s prayer says, "may your will be done…" These statements did not occur by chance in the Bible, they are there to teach us the principle that our prayers need to be in agreement with God’s will - as shown in God’s word!"
Any child who asks his good father something that would harm himself, (e.g. a sharp toy) would moreover not receive it. Thus, the same case happens with our prayers. God so loves us that He would answer our prayers negatively if it is not in accordance with His Word. The Word of God is the only objective and most reliable source where we can get to know His will! Are we asking for something in accordance and in agreement with God’s Word? Or, in agreement with ourselves only? Do we have a Biblical basis for our requests? If we do not have one yet, look for it in the Bible as soon as you can. There is tremendous value in knowing that what we are asking for is what God requires and approves. If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31)
Also, we can quote to God His Word in our prayers and the Lord listens to those who asks according to His will. As John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." (italics mine)
Be Consistent
The next principle starts with the letter B: "Be consistent!" This means pray, pray and keep on praying until the Lord sends His clear answer. Why keep on praying even if there seems to be no answer that’s coming? Well, if you are sure it is God’s will, you know that both God and you agree that this should be! Then if you were with God, would length of time, months, years or even decades of no answers hinder Him? Then, why should it hinder you from praying for it again?
In the parable, the widow keeps on asking the ungodly judge. Luke 18:3 tells us, "and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.’" (italics mine) The widow kept on coming to the ungodly judge. God is good. And the parable explains that if the judge who was ungodly, who was not good, gave the widow justice and vindication, how much more would God the Father give us what we ask if it is in agreement with His will! Therefore keep on praying! As Luke 18:1 says, Jesus told this parable "to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. "
One mason, I happened to read, know the value of consistency. Large, strong and massive walls do not shatter in one hammer. They do not even shatter in two, ten, twenty or even thirty hammers. But on this mason, on his thirty-ninth hammer, a significant thing happened. The wall showed a crack. The large, strong massive wall showed a weakness. And after the thirty-ninth hammer, the fortieth and after the hammers that followed, the wall came toppling down. In our prayers, there is a large, strong and massive wall to our prayers and this is the devil. He is set on hindering our prayers (which are in agreement with God’s will) to send that lie that God does not care for us nor love us. But if we keep on praying, that hindrance set by the devil gets a crack and eventually goes toppling down and the hindrance becomes no more.
May God’s will be done in earth as it is in heaven! Keep on praying!
Claim it by Faith
The third principle we have to remember in praying starts with the letter C and that C stands for, Claim it by faith! This is not the "claim it and have it theology." Remember, you can only claim it when you already have done principle one and two, or A and B. You can claim God’s positive response to your prayers when and only when you know it is God’s will and you have committed yourself to be consistent on praying for it! Only the Holy Spirit ought to be our guide when to cease on praying. It is best that we keep on praying.
In the parable, the need for faith in our prayers is shown in Luke 18:8, "Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Italics mine) Jesus is asking us, "Do you believe that I can answer your prayers?" Having faith in our prayers is very Biblical. In James 1:6, in asking for wisdom, James teaches, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (italics mine) Let our spiritual eyes be opened. It only takes one word or nod from God to our prayers and it shall be given. In a snap God can fulfill our prayers. Let us follow the Biblical emphasis on prayer! Prayers need to be uttered with faith! Or else, it just goes out of our noses and reaches only the roof!
Faith in uttering our prayers, claiming that our prayers are God’s will, and it shall happen, is not the same with presumption. Presumption is without basis. Claiming our prayers with faith has its basis on the Bible! If you’re sure, it is what the Holy Spirit leads, if it is written in the Bible - claim it by faith! And see the wonders of God’s love as He answers your prayers. Truly, amazing grace how sweet the sound! Grace is the one that gives us faith. Faith through the grace of God enables us to claim our prayers with faith. We can not pump faith into our minds and spirit and say, "I have faith!" "I have faith!" Faith for it to be really faith needs to be grounded on God’s Word and comes through grace. (See Ephesians 2:8)
Have you exercised your faith lately? Use your faith, for no Christian has no faith. Since you were born-again you have been given faith. Practice it now in your prayers. As you use your faith, it shall become stronger and you shall see more of your prayers answered.
These guidelines ought to be remembered in our times of prayer. We need to be sure that our prayers are (1) in Agreement or in Accordance with God’s Word, (2) we need to Be consistent in our prayers and (3) we need to Claim it by faith! Of course, we need to know also that sin affects the effectivity of our prayers. (see Isaiah 1:15) Thus we need to ask God for forgiveness as we dwell with Him in prayer. There are other principles and guidelines in prayer but the A-B-C steps are very important.
What’s with prayers that we need to practice it and observe some guidelines? Well, even the A-B-C steps in prayer point to one thing. When we seek God, if our prayers are in (A) agreement or in accordance with God’s will, we see God portrayed in the Bible. When we (B) become consistent with God in our prayers, we dwell more in the presence of God and when we (C) claim our prayers by faith, we put our hope and trust in God! When we reflect on this we find that prayer is basically an outward manifestation of our relationship with God. Perhaps, people do not pray because they do not have a relationship with God. Prayer simply happens because we have a relationship with Him. When we pray, we have a date with God. There we worship, confess, and sometimes cry, laugh and in other times just become silent. In all these steps, God is the center of it all!
So, what’s with prayer? It is God! It is the Lord Jesus Christ! It is the Holy Spirit! It is about the One True Most High God and you! Yes, prayer is also about you! It is about the God who loves us and listens to us. And it is about, you who love Him and worship Him and trust Him. Let us show Him that we love Him with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength. In prayer, we are able to love God and we are able to express our adoration for Him.
My brothers and sisters, "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
