The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright (Proverbs 15:8).
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere (Ephesians 6:18).
…steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer (Romans 12:12 – J.B. Phillips).
One of the greatest stress relievers I know of is answered prayer. One of the most spiritually productive things you can do is to develop your faith in God to answer prayer!
I was raised in church and frequently heard that when God answers prayer, He sometimes says yes, sometimes says maybe or wait a while, and sometimes says no. And I heard that if prayer was not answered, then what was prayed must not have been the will of God.
All of this is carnal thinking! As I began to read the Bible, I saw clearly that the Father wants to answer prayer! And not with a no or a maybe, but with a resounding yes! So I say to you, 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 (Luke 11:9-10).
First, find scripture that covers what you are praying about. That is, make sure according to the Word that what you’re praying about is the will of God. Once you do that, pray, stand your ground in faith, and expectantly wait for the answer!
Prayer is a sure cure for worry, which is really faith in reverse! Prayer is an excellent way to release your faith in the Father to work in the circumstances of your life. Don’t worry and brood over problems that arise. Pray and ask the Father to work them out!
There will never be a time in your life that you don’t need faith in answered prayer, either for yourself, or for someone else. So it only makes practical sense for us to keep our faith built up in the scriptures where God promises to hear and answer prayer.
So I encourage you to make these scripture a part of your daily meditation. They will build you up in your faith in the Father to answer your prayers! I meditate on these scriptures every single day, often reminding the Father of them as I come before Him with requests. If you will take some time every day to muse and meditate on them, your faith in God to answer prayer will be increased.
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive (Matthew 21:22)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:24).
And so I tell you, ask and it will be given you, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. The one who asks will always receive; the one who is searching will always find, and the door is opened to the man who knocks (Luke 11:9-10 – J.B. Phillips).
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7).
And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22).
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15).