How to Receive Answered Prayer
One of the many blessings that comes from living the new life in Christ is answered prayer (Rom. 6:4). Because we live only to please God every day by performing God’s Will in our lives, we assure our hearts before God and we can ask in prayer without doubting (John 9:31; 1 John 3:18-19; James 1:6). We know He considers us righteous because we practice righteousness for God (1 John 3:7). And we know He hears the prayers of the righteous (1 Peter 3:12; Prov. 15:29).
We practice living as Jesus Christ lived and as the Father lives by keeping the sayings of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1; John 12:47; Luke 8:21). We also control our thoughts and the words we speak so that they are pleasing to God (1 Peter 4:11).
But most of all, we use the members of our bodies as instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:13; 1 Peter 3:11-12). We practice righteousness constantly to please God and to produce good fruits for Him (1 John 2:29; 3:10; John 15:8). The good fruits we produce on our spiritual trees are good works (Col. 1:10; Matt. 3:10; 7:17-20; Phil. 1:11).
By conforming to godliness and by practicing righteousness, we allow God the Father to reveal His Son Jesus Christ in us (John 14:23; Gal. 1:16; 4:19). Keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ is not grievous, but very enjoyable (1 John 5:3; Matt. 11:30). It is the peaceful way that God created us to live (Jer. 10:23; Prov. 16:3; 20:24; Heb. 10:20, 24). We are at peace with ourselves because we are at peace with our Maker (John 17:13; 2 Thess. 3:16; Phil. 4:7).
All we must do now is endure to the end (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Rev. 2:26). We must remain loyal to God by remaining diligent and continuing to persevere in righteousness (Luke 21:19; Rev. 2:2-3, 19; Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13; Heb. 12:3). We have a purpose in life. We have found that purpose. We now know how to please God and complete our purpose by conforming our lives to His Way of life (1 Tim. 4:7; 6:3). Because we are seeking to please God in all our ways, we are abundantly blessed and our prayers are answered (Matt. 6:33; John 10:10; Mal. 3:10).