How To Get Answers to Your Prayers Consistently

[Guest mormonmusic]

I'm gong to follow JudoMinja's example and post something from my first blog in my account area for discussion. This is something I stumbled upon recently when pondering how to get answers to prayers more consistently.

I was pondering "who is good at getting answers to prayers consistently", and thought of Nephi in Helaman Chapter 10 and 11. This is what I learned:

How To Receive Answers to your prayers consistently

One source of frustration and yearning for many is how to get answers to their prayers consistently. There are two chapters in the Book of Mormon that describe one man's ability to have ANYTHING he asked for granted by God.

Helaman Chapter 10 and Chapter 11 describes the relationship of the Prophet Nephi and God. God trusted Nephi so much that he promised that anything Nephi asked for would be granted to him. Therefore, if anyone knew how to get his prayers answers, this Nephi did.

If you read through his prayer in Chapter 11 of Helaman, you learned how he reasoned with God and gave arguments to convince God to grant his desires. I have found that by modeling his reasoning and attitudes during prayer, I too have received answers to my own prayers.

As background, there was a famine in the land to stir up people's memory of God and to encourage them to repent. Nephi wanted God to stop the famine and bring rain.

Here are a few of his petitions in his prayer. Model these arguments and petitions in you own prayers:

1. Quote God's promises that bear on the subject of your prayer. In this case, Nephi alluded to God's prior promise that anything Nephi asked would be granted. He did so gently, and carefully though, so as not to be disrespectful or demanding to God.

Therefore, if you are struggling financially, and have been paying your tithing, quote the promise in Malachi that says that people who pay their tithing will receive a blessing to the point they can't receive it, it will be so extensive. Ask for a financial blessing to get you out of the woods as fulfilment of God's promise of blessings for tithing. As Nephi did.

2. Humbly point to good acts you have done. Nephi told God that his people had removed the Gadianton robbers from the land as an act of obedience and goodness. Therefore, would God recognize this and send rain?

When you pray, point to the things you have tried to do that are good, and ask God to accept these and provide the blessings you seek. Do this without arrogance, however.

3. Pray with an attitude of deep humility.

Nephi pointed out the deep humility of his people, and asked God to give blessings given their change of heart. Therefore, in your own prayers, make sure you approach your prayer and the words you speak from a position of humility, never demanding, never angry -- always humble and acknowledging the greatness of God.

4. Make sincere promises of future service. Nephi asked God to send rain with the promise that if He did so, the people would continue to serve him. Promises of continued service and righteous acts speak volumes to God, and in Nephi's case contributed to God's decision to send rain.

5. Bring repentence to the table;

Nephi pointed out how the people had repented and did remember their God. Point to the ways you have changed your character and ask for blessings to be granted to you as a result -- quoting the specific blessing you are seeking. If you can't think of anything you've done to repent, then identify those ways you need to change, and make progress on them before asking for that rich blessing you're seeking.

6. Express patience:

Nephi asked for rain to come "in God's own time". He was never demanding about it happening immediately -- he showed a willingness to wait until God decided the time was right. Show that same patience when asking for things in your own prayers.

7. Ask that hardship you have already endured be sufficient to qualify you for the blessing.

Nephi asked God to accept the deaths of the people who had already been destroyed by the famine to be sufficient to bring rain.

Therefore, if you have suffered with a health problem for decades, point to the hardship you have endured so far, and ask God to acknowledge this as sufficient.

There is more in these chapters, as I'm going from memory. Having the detailed prayer of a prophet who was given the power to have anything he asked for granted -- is a gem to read. It is full of the principles we need to obey to get answers to our prayers consistently. And for me, the overriding principle is change in the heart of the blessing-seeker. Changing your character and behavior carries great weight when God considers whether to unlock that blessing you're seeking.

For me, these two chapters are part of the great blessings we enjoy from having the Book of Mormon and its teachings which can be understood so plainly.

Edited April 20, 2010 by mormonmusic

[Guest Alana]

#6 seems to be a big one for me. Also reminds me of the lesson for my class this Sunday "Prayers are answered in the best way." In this category goes 'sometimes the answer is no' and 'sometimes Heavenly Father leaves it up to you.'

[hordak]

#6 seems to be a big one for me. Also reminds me of the lesson for my class this Sunday "Prayers are answered in the best way." In this category goes 'sometimes the answer is no' and 'sometimes Heavenly Father leaves it up to you.'

My mother had this fancy decorative plate hanging on the wall that read

"Lord grant me patience. But please hurry."

[Edda]

I sometimes ask myself, if the good and bad things that happen to us in this life, are the way they are because things developed the way they did... through decisions and so on.. or if God influenced things.

If things just develop the way they do... Can I ever expect God to GIVE me something.. ? Make it happen for me..? Or is it just luck and hard work that makes my life the way it is and will be..

Edited April 20, 2010 by Edda

[applepansy]

Edda, I believe God gives us everything. I acknowlege His hand in every aspect of my life. He picks me up out of bed in the morning, because I can't seem to make my body move, in the mornings especially (I have chronic pain). He gives me the energy and endurance beyong my capacity because I am willing to spend my day raising my grandson. He puts me to bed at night and when I ask he helps me sleep so that I can repeat all of these things the next day.

Our Heavenly Father loves us. He will never infringe on our agency or the agency of others. But he does bless our lives in so many way. Yes, you can expect God to give you something, provided you've done your part.

[Guest mormonmusic]

I sometimes ask myself, if the good and bad things that happen to us in this life, are the way they are because things developed the way they did... through decisions and so on.. or if God influenced things.

If things just develop the way they do... Can I ever expect God to GIVE me something.. ? Make it happen for me..? Or is it just luck and hard work that makes my life the way it is and will be..

Edda -- I don't think we know for sure whether God has intervened proactively in our lives to make things happen, or whether they are sometimes just the result of random forces acting on each other, or just our application of true principles and hard work.

However, I think it's safe, and better for our peace of mind to assume that all things come from God. As He said in the D&C "against none is his anger kindled save against those who confess not his hand in all things..."

I think God is offended when we don't acknowledge his part in the good things that happen to us. Ultimately, he put us here, gave us agency, and created all things with which we interact in a complex ecosystem. So, it's safe to put the things down to the influence of God.....and I think God blesses us when we do this, and acknowlege His hand this way.

Edited April 20, 2010 by mormonmusic

[Edda]

wow these thoughts are so precious for me...

I will take notes of them and think about it..

I really have to become more..thankful.. I thought I am.. but Im not even nearly enaugh thankfull.

I feel a little bad now. But I will give my best to change it.

Thank you for taking the time for me by answering my question. :) :)