Knowing God's Answers To Your Prayers

What prayers have you prayed to God? God answered your prayers according to his will. 1 John 5:14, (NIV) says: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

It’s God’s will that you have healthy relationships, good health, a thriving career or business, financial wealth, and spiritual growth. The challenge is knowing God’s answers to your prayers.

It was God’s will to deliver the Israelites from slavery. They cried and groaned to God about their bondage in Egypt. God heard their prayer. Exodus 2:24 (NIV) says, “God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.” God responded to their prayer based on his covenant with their forefathers.

God appointed Moses to lead them out of slavery. Moses went to the Israelites to inform them of God’s promise to deliver them from slavery. The Israelites didn’t receive Moses' message from God. Exodus 6:9 (NIV) says, “Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.” The Israelites discouragement and focus on their circumstances kept them from recognizing God’s answer to their prayer.

God gave you a better covenant than the Israelites. Jesus is the mediator of the better covenant that includes your freedom. Hebrews 8:6 (NIV) says, “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.” God's answers to your prayers are based on your covenant through Jesus.

God makes known the details of His covenant to you in your mind. Hebrews 8:10 (NIV) says, “This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” God's details of his covenant come as you grow in God’s teachings and instructions. The details include the answer to your prayers. 

The answer to your prayers is hidden in your heart. They are the desires of the heart. Jesus said in Mark 11:24 (KJV) says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." God reveals answers to prayers when your desire is aligned with God’s desire. For example, a person may ask God for a promotion. God answered their prayer by giving them an idea to start a business. The individual receives God's answer to their prayer when their desire to start a business match God's desire to start a business. 

Discouragement keeps you from knowing the answer to God’s prayer. Discouragement comes when you focus more on your circumstances. It blocks you from receiving inspiration and knowledge from God to get His answers for your prayers. A strong desire for God is your solution for discouragement.

The starting point to desiring God and receiving answers to prayers are:

1. Love God with all your heart: Jesus said in Matthew 22:37- 38 (KJV), “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment." Loving God includes giving God first place in your heart.

2. Desire God with your mind: Desiring God is having high reverence of pleasure and satisfaction for God in your mind. Psalm 37:4 (NIV) says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

3. Let God’s word dominate your mind at all times: John 15:7 (NKJV) says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” You let God's word dominate your mind when you make decisions according to God's word. 

I encourage you to examine how you can give God full attention with your mind. Identify areas that discourage you when you give attention to it. Commit to giving more attention to God. Your answered prayers are desires hidden in your heart.

Tulani Person is a Life Strategist, Empowerment Speaker, and Certified Personal Growth Coach who equips people who are committed to living a lifestyle of purpose. She has a gift to help people discover desires hidden in their hearts. Tulani Person is available for individual and group coaching, workshops, team training, lunch n learns, conferences, and keynote speaking. For a free consultation or to book Tulani Person, please visit https://www.iamtulaniperson.com/services.

In July 2019, Tulani published her book, Desires of the Heart: Move Forward with Power in God's Grace. In Desires of the Heart, Tulani shares three steps to move beyond dread, disappointments, and discouragement. To purchase a copy of Desires of the Heart visit: www.amazon.com/author/tulaniperson.