How many of your prayers get answered? Yeah, I know, God answers all prayers (yes, no or not now), but I’m talking about the “yes” answers. How many? Most? Some? Almost none?

I think if we’re honest, most of us would say we’re not in the “many” category. Maybe not even in the “some.”

Why do you think that is? After all, Jesus made some awfully bold promises concerning prayer:

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:7-8)

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:12-14)

If you’re like me, it’s easy to focus on the “ask whatever you wish” and “ask me for anything” parts and forget the conditions: “if you remain in Me and My words remain in you” and “so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”

Prayer is not me presenting my wish list to God like a child mails a letter to Santa. Prayer is an intimate communication with the Holy Spirit whereby He leads me into the truth and exposes my wrong motives so they can be confessed and turned away from. It’s hanging in there long enough with Him so He can reveal His desires and I can adopt them as my own.

Then, and only then, can I pray with confidence and boldness knowing that God will hear me and answer my request.

The heart of answered prayer is not in the asking, but in the surrendering to the Father’s will and ways…and in allowing Him to renew the way I think and what I desire.