“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” - Matthew 7:8

Who Is God?

God is the Creator of heaven and earth. It is written, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). He made humans, male and female, in His own image. “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

When humans were disobedient and needed help to reconcile with God, God sent His only begotten Son to the world to atone for our sin. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Through the blood Jesus shed at Calvary, we can be forgiven of our sins and reconciled to God, if we believe. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).

Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and turns to God is forgiven their sins and called ‘a child of God.’ The person believes that God can do all things. The prophet Jeremiah said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). God questions Prophet Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). God then declares to him: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). All things are possible with God. Angel Gabriel affirmed to Virgin Mary during the proclamation of the birth of Jesus, (when Mary was confused about the promise of God for a virgin to bear a child), “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). With God, all things are possible!

Whose Prayers Did God Answer?

God answers the prayer of whoever believes in Him, through Jesus Christ, and calls upon Him. It is written, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:8). Age, class, ethnicity, education, religion, sex, disability, and others are not barriers to come or call upon God. Everyone is always welcomed by God to ask, seek, and knock. God answers prayers!

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11). Have a focus, believe that God can hear and answer your prayers. Open your mouth and talk to God.

How Do We pray?

As believers in Jesus Christ, we pray to God in Jesus’ name. Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16). When you pray ‘in Jesus’ name’ God honors it. We pray to God in Jesus’ name. We appreciate who God is and who He is in our lives. We let God know how we are feeling about situations. We confess our sins to God and renounce them. We remember God’s favor and mercy. We commit our requests unto Him, we have faith in God, and believe that we have received answers to our prayers.

No wonder Jesus encourages us in Mark 11:22-24, “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Faith/Believe and God?

Faith is essential in having our prayers answered. Jesus says: “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23). Whoever prays to God in faith will receive from God. We only need the grace that comes through Jesus Christ for our salvation. For those who are praying for salvation, you need to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.

In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus told the woman who asked Him to help her demon-possessed daughter that children’s bread should not be given to a dog. This woman exercised her faith in God and explained that dogs eat the crumbs that fall under the table: “Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matthew 15: 21-28).

Even if there is something somehow, that might want to disturb answers to prayers, one can plead with God, and He will forgive. If necessary, God will reveal if it is sin that is hindering, and will give a repenting heart, forgive, and show Himself as God who answers prayers. Therefore, faith is essential in getting answers to our prayers. Paul the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). We are encouraged to believe that God who formed us in His image can do it, and we should believe that we have received answers to our prayers—then we begin to thank God. Always remember your relationship with God and maintain it through personal Bible reading, fellowshipping with other believers in Christ, and living according to the will of God.

What Are Your Troubles/Requests?

The first human problem is separation from God. For you to have your prayers answered, you need to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Confess your sins, repent, and call Jesus into your heart. As a born again child of God, your relationship with God will be very intimate that you can ask anything from your heavenly Father and He will answer you at any time. You will be delivered if you call upon God. He is waiting to listen and deliver you. Jesus died on the Cross at Calvary to pay for all your sins and troubles. Call upon God today, in Jesus’ name and see the glory of God. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” (Psalm 46:10-11).

God wants you to intercede for others. Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:12-14). God answers prayers! © 2023 Grace Akinbode

Back to top of page