Topical Bible: Answers To Prayer: Promised

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The concept of answered prayer is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting the relationship between God and His people. Throughout Scripture, God promises to hear and respond to the prayers of the faithful, emphasizing His willingness to engage with those who seek Him earnestly.

Old Testament Promises

In the Old Testament, the promise of answered prayer is often linked to obedience and faithfulness. One of the earliest instances is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God assures Solomon, "if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." This verse underscores the conditional nature of answered prayer, highlighting the importance of humility and repentance.

The Psalms frequently echo this promise, portraying God as a responsive and attentive listener. Psalm 34:17 declares, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles." Similarly, Psalm 145:18-19 affirms, "The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them."

New Testament Promises

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ reinforces the promise of answered prayer, emphasizing faith and persistence. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus encourages His followers, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." This passage highlights the assurance that God responds to those who earnestly seek Him.

Moreover, in John 14:13-14, Jesus provides a powerful promise regarding prayer in His name: "And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." This promise is contingent upon the alignment of the request with God's will and the glorification of the Father through the Son.

The Apostle Paul also speaks to the promise of answered prayer in Philippians 4:6-7, urging believers, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Here, the promise is not only of an answer but also of divine peace that accompanies the act of prayer.

Conditions and Considerations

While the Bible is replete with promises of answered prayer, it also outlines conditions that influence the fulfillment of these promises. Faith is a critical component, as seen in James 1:6-7, which advises, "But let him ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."

Additionally, the alignment of one's requests with God's will is essential. 1 John 5:14-15 states, "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 what we asked of Him."

The Bible also emphasizes the importance of righteousness and a pure heart in receiving answers to prayer. James 5:16 asserts, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail." Similarly, Psalm 66:18 warns, "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

In summary, the promise of answered prayer is a profound testament to God's desire for a relationship with His people, contingent upon faith, righteousness, and alignment with His divine will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 58:9
Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the middle of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 29:12
Then shall you call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Dying Girl's Prayer for Her Drunken Father
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer. ... and he broke out into an earnest
prayer for himself ... bewailed his sins, confessed and promised to forsake them ...
/.../the dying girls prayer for.htm

Answers to Prayer
... had himself repeatedly proved that the Lord hears and answers prayer! ... A PRAYER FOR
FIFTY DOLLARS. ... without pledge from man for support, or promised salary for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the wonders of prayer/answers to prayer.htm

How God Answered Donald's Prayer
... faith but a childlike trust in believing that God answers their prayers. ... I promised
him to come up soon, but I continued on for ... God heard my prayer to be saved ...
/.../how god answered donalds prayer.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... it that Christians offer up so many prayers without receiving answers?" The apostle ...
so as to secure the blessings so largely promised in answer to prayer. ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

Prayer Perfumed with Praise
... yet the reality and heartiness of prayer will often ... occasion he pleaded concerning
the promised heir, at ... of supplication, and for the divine answers to these ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/prayer perfumed with praise.htm

A Child's Faith
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer. <. ... God is our Father.
He has promised to hear us, and I am sure he will.". ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/a childs faith.htm

Triumphant Death of a Little Child
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer. ... In the midst of many tears all
promised her they would surely meet her in that bright and beautiful home ...
/.../triumphant death of a little.htm

New Shoes
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer. ... His mother had promised to wash
and mend his clothes, so that he might go looking very neat indeed; but ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/new shoes.htm

Prayer --A Privilege, Princely, Sacred
... promised to do something general if we pray, but He has promised to do ... of Bible teaching
is to illustrate the great truth that God hears and answers prayer. ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/i prayera privilege princely sacred.htm

The Prayer of Faith.
... that saying, "if it be thy will," when God has expressly promised it, was ... All the
history of the church shows that when God answers prayer, he gives his people ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture v the prayer of.htm