"Prayer with Answers
I've heard of many people who make valiant endeavors to launch a successful prayer life, only to have it thwarted by pointlessness, neglect, boredom, weariness, disenchantment, bitterness, and you may even add to the list.
Some people fluctuate between two attitudes or extremes. One is a hopeful guesswork, the other is a holy fatalism. Wrapped up in those suggestions [are] the vast majority of believers who are caught up in the never-ending crisis of 'not getting it together in their prayer life' syndrome.
It is crucial to strike a balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Psalm 91:15 says, 'He shall call upon Me and I will answer Him'; and Isaiah 58:9, 'Then shalt thou call, and the Lord will answer; thou shalt cry and He shall say, "Here I am..."' These scriptures, along with others (Luke 11:9, John 15:7, I Chronicles 16:11, James 5:13), point the believer to a good understanding of the expression, 'Without Him, we cannot; without us, He will not.'
Luke 11:1-4 gives us a valuable outline to foillow in developing a prayer life that experiences answers:
1. A PROPER PERSPECTIVE - Verses 1 & 2a
Two principles seem essential when it comes to purposeful prayer. One is being teachable; the other is knowing the Father. Basic to any approach to God's throne is a clear understanding that He's my Father and from Him, and Him alone, all blessings flow. Notice the Biblical balance between intimacy and esteem (Psalm 68:5, Isaiah 64:8).
2. A PROVIDED POWER - Verse 2b
The balance point is that all true authority must be willing to come under authority. God's ruling power is manifested only from those who are willing to be ruled (Matthew 8:5-10, John 14:7-11). The appropriation of divine authority and power follows on the heels of my grasping the full truth that He is my Father.
3. A PRODUCTIVE PATTERN - Verses 3 & 4
Notice the word 'asking'. God's not looking for a begging people or those who wrestle Him to the ground for answers. The seeking spoken of here is one of assumed response. Because of His provision in the past, I have confidence for answered prayer in the future (Isaiah 65:24). He adds that harbored resentment, unrelenting attitudes and unreleased bitterness will bind and restrict fruitful prayer (Mark 11:25, Luke 17:4, Ephesians 4:32).
4. A PRESENT PRINCIPLE - Verse 4b
A continual awareness of where the battle is taking place is essential and should be desired by every believer who earnestly prays (Ephesians 6:10-18, II Corinthians 10:4-6).
Ron Mehl"