If you REALLY want to know how to get your prayers answered, look at 1 John 5:14-15:
14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. AMP
The key to answered prayer is to get the Lord to hear us. The verses above show us that He ONLY hears those requests that are according to, or in line with, His will. His Word IS His will (John 17:17)! So, we need to spend time in the Word of God to find out His will for us, then pray that Word back to Him! Today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin, covers this!
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Gen. 18:23-25)
God refused to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until He had talked it over with Abraham, His blood covenant friend! Abraham's prayer in Genesis, chapter 18 is one of the most suggestive and illuminating prayers in the Old Testament. Abraham was taking his place in the covenant that God had made with him—the Old Covenant, the Old Testament.
Through the covenant, Abraham had received rights and privileges we understand little about. The covenant Abraham had just solemnized with the Lord Jehovah gave Abraham a legal standing with God. Therefore, we hear Abraham speak plainly as he intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Confession: I have a covenant with God, the New Covenant. I have covenant rights and privileges. I have a standing with God. I commune with God. I use my covenant rights and privileges in prayer. I join forces with my Father in carrying out His will and plan upon the earth.
Abraham KNEW the Covenant that He had with Almighty God, and he drew on that Covenant with his petitions. WE, who have a better Covenant, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6), must learn to do the very same thing! When we do, we will be praying those prayers that He WILL answer because He WILL hear us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":
Shalom in Him!
