The key to answered prayer

Is there a key to answered prayer? Let's see.

We are told to...

1. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psa 37:4. 

The key to the 2nd part is the 1st part. When our delight is in God first, our desires align with His. When they do He's giving us what we both want.

2. Seek 1st the kingdom of God and all these things will be added. Matt 6:33. Here we are told to focus on the Kingdom not on things we need.

And...

3. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread...Matt 6:9-11

All 3 of these passages are saying the same thing. If God and His agenda is first then everything else aligns and follows. Our desires and goals and His become the same. This is what ensures that he'll grant them. 

In the Lord's prayer 3 conditions were listed before we are invited to ask for our daily bread.

*Acknowledging God's position and person - "Our Father in heaven..."

*Desire for God's Kingdom - "Your kingdom come..."

*And a desire for His will to be done on earth as in heaven - "Your will be done on earth..." 

After we have these 3 right, then we are invited to ask God to provide for our daily physical and material needs, but not before.

Unanswered prayer is the best way to get to know who you really are - what's really in our heart - who or what you value most.

There is nothing wrong with asking God to provide for our daily physical and material needs but if he does not grant us what we wish and ask for, it is an invitation for us to examine our hearts and make sure we are delighting in him above everything else and aligned with His heart first and foremost.