In our previous meditations, we have set aside some misconceptions about prayer, especially those ideas that we must have special qualifications or that we must do certain things to get answers to our prayers.

Prayer is for all God’s children. God answers us because He is our Father. We don’t need to struggle to get answers, fighting off the devil and subduing God’s reluctance to answer us.

There is no need for us to pray long, wordy prayers because the Father knows our needs before we ask Him.

However, prayer does have some conditions that help us to understand the reasons for what we think is unanswered prayer.

Does God give us everything we pray for? If not, why not?

What are the conditions for answered prayer?

Hebrews 6:12 outlines two requirements that qualify us to inherit what His has promised…faith and patience. God tests our faith and patience by delaying answers to legitimate requests.

12] “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

God does not answer us according to our timetable. He is painting on a much bigger canvas, and He is also working on our character through tests and delays.

God also answers our prayers according to His will, not because we “wrestle” an answer out of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 NIV
[14] “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

Now, let’s get back to the heart of New Covenant prayer. God has provided all the promises we need to cover every situation in life, and to provide for all our needs for godly living…physical, material, and spiritual. Jesus has done everything for us… to deal with our sin, to restore us to the Father, and to act as the mediator between us and the Father. He has also authorised every promise God has ever made so that we are fully equipped to live this life of union with God despite the ungodly world around us.

Did you get that? We live our entire lives as God’s children on God’s promises. Let that sink in! God’s promises are the “fuel” that drives the “engine” of our lives. There is a promise, a declaration, a statement of God’s will to cover every situation, in detail or in principle.

2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV
[3] “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Peter summed up God’s will for us in one simple goal…

“…so that through them (His very great and precious promises), you may participate in the divine nature…”

… and one simple condition…

“… having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Everthing we are, do, and become, hangs on this one truth…what we do with God’s promises.

If we trust God, if we are willing to wait for His timing, and if we ask according to His will, prayer becomes very simple. If all of our lives are controlled by and lived out of God’s promises, and if God’s promises cover every detail of our lives, what us left for us to do?

2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT
[20] For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

Did you get that?

God has simplified prayer to just one word… “AMEN!” He doesn’t need anything more than that! You see, the answers to all our prayers depend on what God has promised, not on our energy or efforts to persuade Him.

The rest of our time with God is about praise, thanksgiving, and worship!

So, when we really understand God’s strategy, how long does it take to say “AMEN”? You answer that question.