The Effective Prayer! 2

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Prayers are channels through which we communicate issues on our minds to God. The Bible assured us to ask, and we shall receive it. So, the question is, why do we pray, and we receive not? You have knocked several, but the door has not been opened. You have searched everywhere, but you could not find the reasons why your prayers have not been answered. Have you considered your very own personality called lifestyle?

Our lifestyle is a reflection of who we are in our hearts, and what we have become, and God places more premium on our lifestyle even more than our service and prayer. It’s not by the number of hours spent in prayer, but the life you live is of more significant concern to God, spending an applaudable number of hours in prayer cannot be substituted for a godly lifestyle.

Jesus was addressing the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Matthew 15:7-8). He used one of the prophecies of Isaiah, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” So, God examines the heart rather than the outward display of religiosity.

If your lifestyle is not acceptable unto God, then your prayers cannot be acceptable. Scriptures affirm that the prayers of the wicked are an abomination in God’s presence. Godly characters will propel, propagate, and help your prayer to be answered. Keep praying until your joy is full. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

Prayers
Lord, please purge me of every unacceptable trait in me and wipe them out with the blood of Jesus.