Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Some believers are experts in asking but are not good at receiving from God. They do all the praying and shouting and shaking before God but are chiefly ignorant of how to receive answers to their prayers. What good will it do you to pray and keep praying without getting answers to prayers? Prayer is not a religious exercise; it is a spiritual transaction between God and man. Prayer is not a monologue; it is a dialogue between God and man. So, when we pray to God, we ought to expect answers. God didn’t tell us to pray just because He wanted us to get busy. He told us to pray because He planned on answering our prayers. This is the reason why learning to receive answers from God is very important, because therein lies the icing on the cake and the beauty of the prayer life.
God has promised to supply all your needs in Christ according to His riches in glory, but you must know how to receive His provisions. Learn to expect the answer when you pray. Believe that you received the answer when you prayed. Doubt has no place in effective prayer. Praise the Lord in faith for the answer, even before it shows up. Don’t wait to see or feel the physical evidence of the answer before giving thanks to God. That would amount to unbelief or doubt. If you believed you received when you prayed, then you ought to give thanks to God for the answer before it shows up. Giving thanks to God in faith is proof that you truly believe you have received the answer. It is important to note that you must not hinder receiving by accommodating any wrong spirit of strife, bitterness, or unforgiveness. The Lord Jesus said when we stand praying, we should forgive if we have any little hurt against anyone (Mark 11:24-25). Ask the Lord to help you get rid of grudges, hate and jealousy. Never stoop low to the enemy’s level and hate anyone, no! Make a list of those who have hurt or mistreated you and pray for each one by name. Don’t seek justification in your resentment!
MY SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION):
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, I thank You for teaching me from Your Word to receive answers to prayers. I declare that I am an excellent receiver in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! I refuse to let unforgiveness and resentment stop my receiving! Amen.
Further Meditation: Mark 11:23-25; James 1:5-8.