Easy Steps To Watch Out For The Signs God Is Answering Your Prayers

We often grapple with the thought of God answering our prayers. Sometimes we have been pleading with Him to provide us with a job or seek healing for a chronic and debilitating illness for years. But in our prayer life, we realize that God either answers, declines, or postpones His answers to our prayers. Often we also neglect the vital elements contained in the Lord’s Prayer[1]: exaltation, honoring His will, and expressing gratitude.

Our prayers are also focused on our earthly wants and wrong motives, which block the presence of God. Prayer is a cornerstone of our faith. But we have to pursue and build our devotion to God by learning Bible verses, having praise and worship, and getting involved in church fellowship. God answers the prayer request of a person with the right level of faith.

How Does God Answer Prayers?

God Says, “Yes”

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

— Matthew 7:7

God answers our prayers. When we plead to Him according to His purpose and will, we expect that our prayers will be granted. Praying for faith and repentance of our sins are sure matters that align with His will. Like our earthly fathers, God answers prayers affirmatively if they are not sinful and bring goodness into our lives.

God Says, “No”

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

— James 4:3

Sometimes God declines our prayer requests, which leads to our frustration and dismay. But, a “no” is also an answered prayer. The Bible says that we often ask with the wrong motives—seeking things and results that are vile, sinful, and self-serving. For example, greed is pleading for more money when we already have enough. He knows what is best for us, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the moment.

God Says, “Not Yet”

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

— Psalm 37:7

Stillness and patience are godly virtues we must inculcate. Instant responses are often not in God’s nature. Like harvesting in a field, we wait for the proper time and season before we can gather the crops. In the same way, God will answer our prayers at the proper time.

It is also important to remember that prayer isn’t a one-time thing; we must pray without ceasing and with sincere faith if we want our prayers to be answered. God is always listening, and He wants us to ask Him for things in faith, without sin.

15 Sure Signs God Is Answering Your Prayers

1. Your Prayer Is In Alignment With God’s Will

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 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.

— 1 John 5:14–15

We frequently think of prayer as a process where God yields to our requests. However, the Bible tells us that the real purpose of prayer is to help us conform to God’s will for our lives. Have we asked God if our will conforms to His will? God wants us to realize that everything good in our lives is a result of Him.

2. You Have Adequate Faith In God

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

— James 1:6–7

Faith is key to answered prayers. We can increase our faith by reading our Bible, praying more often, and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. Doubt can be a hindrance in our path to receiving answers from God. We need to have total belief in God and His power if we want Him to answer our prayers.

3. You Are Driven Into Action

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

— James 2:18

We are often deceived into thinking that the answers to our prayers are granted by God like a “magic wand.” Although God has the preeminent power to make anything possible, like immediate healing for our diseases, He also requires us to move and participate in the action in the fulfillment of our prayers. For example, if we are praying for a job, we should actively look for one in the marketplace.

4. Feeling Of Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

— John 14:27

We know that God hears us when we achieve a sense of peace in our lives. God is with us when we are free from the anxieties, troubles, and concerns of this world. Having tranquility is an indication that God is answering our prayers.

5. Feeling Of God’s Presence

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

— James 4:10

When we feel God’s presence in our lives, especially during times of prayer, we know that He is with us and answering our prayers. When we say “God bless” to others we declare His presence. Spiritually, God moves us in the direction that leads to the fulfillment of our prayer requests and pleadings.

6. Through Visions

When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.

— Numbers 12:6

Having spiritual visions is not only confined to the prophets of old. Today, God grants our prayers by giving us visions that reveal the fulfillment of our pleas to God or wisdom to guide us in the realization of our prayers.

7. Through Dreams

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

— Matthew 2:19

Because of the busyness in our lives, we often bypass or don’t notice God’s answers to our prayers. God speaks with us through our dreams—telling us that they are already granted or showing us how they can be realized.

8. God’s Word

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

— John 15:7 

God’s Word is the source of truth. The more we learn about the deity of God and His commands, the more we will be like Him. If we are near God’s likeness, our will becomes more aligned with Him, and the more our prayers are easily answered by God. When we thirst for His spoken word, a Bible verse reveals that God is answering our prayers.

9. Hearing God’s Voice

He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

— Acts 9:4

We sometimes think that voices from above are not real. But we must remember that God is spirit, and He reveals to us in truth and reality. We are sometimes deceived into thinking that these voices are just figments of our imagination. But, in reality, these are audible voices directly speaking to us like the ones heard by our forefathers and the prophets.

10. Through The Counsel Of Others

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

— Proverbs 11:14

In the congregation of the saints or at church, your fellow brothers and sisters are sometimes used by the Lord to provide godly counsel regarding our prayer requests. They serve as God’s mouthpieces in answering your prayers and resolving your conflicts in life.

11. The Great Provider

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

— Philippians 4:19

We know that God heeds our prayers when our needs are met. When we have bread on the dinner table and resources to answer the needs of the family, we realize that Jesus Christ, our Great Provider, is always at work and answering our prayers. Our blessings are signs God is answering our prayers.

12. The Great Healer

The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.

— Psalm 41:3

We all get sick at one time or another. These are moments when we bow down in prayer for healing for our physical ailment or that of a loved one. We also turn relentless, pleading to God for the forgiveness of sins and restoration of health. Jesus, the Great Healer in the Bible, is always ready to cure us of all diseases if we earnestly seek Him in prayer.

13. You Experience Contentment

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

— Psalm 23:1

Contentment is the fruit of a God-centered life. Your daily life is marked by prayer and thanksgiving that God is enough for your existence. He provides you with all your spiritual and material needs. God is answering your prayers if you feel gratified in all areas of your life.

14. You Express Gratitude

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

— Psalm 106:1

When we always give our thanks to God, He is pleased. Because we are grateful for all the things and occurrences that He bestows upon us, God is more receptive to our prayers. Gratefulness is an attitude that reveals God answered our pleas and prayers.

15. You Experience Joy

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

— Romans 14:17

Joy is the fruit of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is also a clear sign God is answering your prayers. Having a robust, prayerful life is key to having a joyful and happy existence.

Conclusion

Prayer is our means of communicating with God. As His most important creation, the Lord delights if we often exalt and honor Him in prayer. He wants to hear our gratitude and thanksgiving for the life that we have and the blessings that we enjoy in our everyday lives.

God also knows our needs, shortcomings, and sins. But when we pray, we often jump into asking things for our own selfish motives. Our prayers should be centered on praising His Holy Name and being grateful to Him. If we remain pious in His sight, He will surely draw near to us and grant our needs and pleas, even if we don’t ask anything in prayer.