Answered Prayer

I Peter 3:12; 4:7: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil . . . . Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray."



For the follower of Jesus Christ, prayer is an incredible benefit. Prayer to God provides us the opportunity not only to express praise and thanksgiving to a Sovereign and loving Lord, but it also gives us the chance to share our burdens and needs. The Word of God mentioned above tells us that God hears the prayers of the righteous, namely those who are submitted to the Lord and are striving to be obedient to Him. This does not necessarily mean that God always answers our prayers according to our expectations, but He responds in a way that is consistent with His will and for His glory. For the true follower of Christ, whose number one purpose in life is to glorify God, submitting to the will of God for the glory of God is always best.

When those who perpetuate their own selfish desires seek the Lord to answer their prayer, God will not answer according to their demands. To do so would perpetuate the sinful behavior in the individual, and God will never contribute to the chronic rebellion against His Lordship.

Thus, followers of Christ are called to be "clear-minded" or focused upon God without the distraction of sinful pursuits. We are also called to be "self-controlled." We must suppress the selfish desires within us that would wage war for control of our lives. We must surrender to the Lord in all things, for then we can expect the Lord to be responsive to our prayers for His ultimate glory.