Conditions for Answered Prayers

Extracted from: Secrets of a Prayer Warrior by Derek Prince

Eight conditions for approaching God in prayer in a way that will bring answers:


1. Come With Reverent Submission

Example of Jesus - Heb 5:7, Mat 26:39, 42
The Lord’s Prayer - Mat 6:9, 10

When our will conflicts with God’s will, it is the will of God that must prevail.
We’re to be renewed in the attitude of our minds. Eph 4: 22-24

Reflect: Am I praying for this thing because I want it, or because God wants it?
It will affect our whole approach to God if we settle this issue.

When you think about renouncing your own will, bear three things in mind:
1. God loves you more than you love yourself
2. God understands you better than you understand yourself
3. God wants only the best for you

When you truly yield to God’s will, you will discover that it is what the Bible says it is: “good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
What God wants to do is far greater, far higher and far better than anything you or I could ever imagine or think of ourselves. Eph 3:20


2. Have Faith

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb 11:6
We must believe two things: a) God exists
b) He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

It is about relationship: trusting in God as a Person, having confidence in His character.
Important to have a right picture of God – believing in His goodness, His faithfulness, His reliability. This also helps us understand why the Bible teaches that unbelief is sinful, it casts aspersions on God’s character.

Faith is particularly applicable to prayer:
Mat 21: 22, 1 Jhn 5:14

How can we acquire faith?
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.” Rom 10:17
Faith comes from hearing , it comes from listening to God. Prayer is not just talking to God; it is two-way communication with God.

To tune your heart to hear, pray with your bible open. In fact, I suggest that you never begin a serious time of prayer without first reading your Bible. Why?
a) God speaks primarily through His Word.
b) Anything that does not agree with the bible is not from God.


3. Pray in the Name of Jesus
John 16:23-24

When we pray in the name of Jesus:
a) We are coming to God on the basis of what Jesus has done on our behalf.
Pet 3:18, Eph 2:13, Heb 22,24
b) We come on the basis of who Jesus Himself is, not who we are. Jesus is our High
Priest , our Advocate in heaven.
Heb 10:19, 21-22, 1 John 2:1
c) We recognize the relationship that we have with God through Jesus.
Eph 1:3-6
We are accepted by God as His children when we come to Him in the Beloved, Jesus Christ.

4. Approach God Boldly

a) Approach God with confidence/full assurance. Heb 4:16
We are praying to the King of kings, supreme Ruler of the universe, seated on the
Throne of Grace and mercy. He has both the authority and the power to do what we
ask. Heb 10:19, 20
b) Come to Him without condemnation
Psm 66:18 “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear”. To “regard iniquity in my heart” means that I am conscious of something that condemns me. It might be a sin that has not been confessed or which I have not claimed and received God’s forgiveness.
1 Jhn 1:9 When we confess, repent and trust God for the forgiveness and cleansing, we must not go on worrying about our sins.
1 Jhn 3:21-22 If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God and whatever we ask, we receive from Him.
Rom 8:1 There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.


5. Have the Right Motive
“God sees not as man sees, for man look at the outward appearance, but the LORD
looks at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7
God searches the thoughts and intents of our hearts, and discerns our motives.
James 4:2-3

Wrong motives e.g. prayers that are self-centred, for own comfort, personal
satisfaction.

What is right motive?
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in
the Son” John 14:13

The essence of sin is choosing not to live for God’s glory, denying Him the glory that
is rightfully due to Him. Rom 1:21

6. Forgive Those Who Have Hurt You
Mat 6:12 Forgive us as we forgive others. What we might not realize is that this is an
important condition for receiving answers to prayer.
Mk 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,
forgive him.”

7. Be Directed by the Holy Spirit
Rom 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Holy Spirit, these are sons of God”. That is a
continuing present tense in Greek i.e. being regularly, continually led by the Holy
Spirit.
Rom 8: 26,27 The Holy Spirit makes intercession through you when you don’t know
how to pray as you ought.
1 Thess 5:17, Eph 6:18 The bible says we should pray unceasingly – only the Holy
Spirit can conduct a 24 hrs prayer.

8. Ask according to God’s Word
The will of God is revealed in His Word, which is packed with “exceedingly great and
precious promises.” 2 Pet 1:4
Thus, when you find a promise that relates to your situation and meets your needs, that
promise is God’s will for you.
This last condition is the great secret that clinches our life of prayer – we pray
according to God’s will as revealed in His Word.
“Do as You have said Lord” is the essence of effective praying.