How to Help God Answer Prayers

Does that sound familiar? It’s a phrase I heard a lot growing up. Yet to this day I still can’t find a reference for it anywhere in the Judeo-Christian Bible nor do I think I ever will. There may be good merit in that idea, though it’s not a purely biblical concept. I believe what my kin folks and colleagues were trying to teach with this motto is that we should be proactive and diligent to effect our own outcomes — even when praying about them.

I’m of the firm conviction that prayers move heaven because when God is on your side, divine blessings and favors are always near and all things become possible. It is really the #1 secret weapon to solve life’s problem. However, one of the 7 things that absolutely won’t help you in life is the prayer you refuse to pray.

Without giving undue credence to the validity of this saying, if you are a person of prayer or even pray “sometimes,” there are things you can actually do to help God answer prayers (including your own). Not that God “needs” our help but when we have a personal relationship with Him, heaven seems to respond favorably to our petitions — that always helps.

If you want to move the arms that move the world, follow effective principles of prayer and humanity and divinity will cooperate to accomplish great and mighty things. Consider this quote from a book on prayer:

1. Get Connected. In our busy technologically advanced society, we are more disconnected than ever. We have more “friends” on Facebook that we try to keep up with their every move than we do with our real friends. Families rather text each other within the same house than speak to each other. If this is the case with each other, how much more with the Divine. Prayer is one of the fastest ways to reconnect with your Creator.

2. Be Available. What good is it to be reconnected spiritually if we’re not available mentally and physically as well? This is a clarion call to reprioritize our values and protect our physical house so we can commune clearly with God and have much energy to accomplish His will.

3. Lend a Helping Hand. Since we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, following the gold rule principle in all we do is righteous spirituality in practice. God is well pleased when we do for others, that which we would want others to do for us were we in their situation. Therefore, to get your prayers answered, you be the answer to someone else’s prayer.

4. Give Generously. It keeps the soul free from greed and full of compassion. It is the sacred antidote to greed and ensures prosperity on many levels. Says the wise and wealthy King Solomon, “Whoever gives to the poor, lends to the Lord, and that which they have given will be repaid again.” Giving helps to answer the prayers of others. And should the golden rule be followed by all, someone will give to answer your own prayers.

5. PUSH. Excuse the phraseologies but this one is warranted. Pray Until Something Happens! Don’t give up too easily on your prayers. After all, “God does not always answer our prayers the first time we call upon Him; for should He do this, we might take it for granted that we had a right to all the blessings and favors He bestowed upon us. Instead of searching our hearts to see if any evil was entertained by us, any sin indulged, we would become careless, and fail to realize our dependence upon Him, and our need of His help.” (Prayer, p. 139)

6. Say “Thank You” More Often. This is one of the most neglected aspects of prayer. Most of us ask and ask and ask, but seldom do we give thanks when our prayers have been answered. As Zig Ziglar used to say, “The more we give [God] thanks, the more we will have to be thankful for.”

7. Help Yourself. That’s not a denial of faith. Genuine faith is demonstrated with action. “We should watch and pray as though this were the last day that would be granted us.” Pray and work, and work and pray. (Prayer, p. 26, 64) If you do, you will show that you believe in what you’re praying for.