Is Prayer Alone Enough – Part 1

Jesus says, “If you ask anything in My name I will do it” – John 14:14 and “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.” – John 16:24
Jesus very clearly says ask (pray) and receive. However as we read the Bible more deeply we know there is more to it. Does it require something else on our part? Let us look at the following verses.
Jesus says, “Whatever things you ask when you pray believe that you receive them and you will have them.”- Mark 11:24 & Matthew 21:22 and “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.” – John 15:7
“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” – 1 John 3:22

How to be assured of our prayers being answered?

1. Have faith – Jesus says, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there ‘and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20

2. Live a pure clean life – God tells Abraham, “I am Almighty God. Walk before Me blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.” – Genesis 17:1&2 God is so proud of Job. He tells Satan, “Consider My servant Job that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man. One who fears God and shuns evil.” So strive to be like Job. David says, “If I had harboured sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” – Psalm 66:18

3. Repent of your sins – When Nathan the prophet confronts David of his sins of adultery and murder, David does not argue or make excuses, but humbly falls at the feet of God and repents. Let us be like David. God forgave David and He will forgive you too.

4. Be Obedient – Samuel tells Saul, “..to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams”- 1 Samuel 15:22. God prefers obedience to any sacrifice or service we may do. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 15:14. We are blessed when we keep God’s commandments

5. Give God something – Hannah makes a vow, “.. If you give Your maidservant a male child then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life…” – 1 Samuel 1:11. So like Hannah give… of your time your money and your talents. So remember the Lord has given each of us talents. Let us use it for His glory. Remember the ‘Parable of the Talents’, the man who did not use his talent and just buried it was called – ‘You wicked and lazy servant’ –Matthew 25:26. Also the talent was taken away from him and given to another. So beware if the talent God has given you is not used in His service, God can remove it from you. We should aspire for God to tell us too, “Well done thou good and faithful servant”- Matthew 25:21

6. Do also what needs to be done in the natural – Let us look at the example of Jacob. When Jacob returns to Cannan and has to face Easu whom he had cheated, he is afraid. First he prays a long prayer and reminds God of His promises to Him and asks God, “Deliver me I pray from the hand of my brother Esau, for I fear him”- Genesis 32:11 and then he prepares presents for his brother and on seeing him bows before him, praises him and thus pleases him.

7. Lastly Fast as well as Pray – Jesus said “However this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” – Matthew 17:21