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From time to time, people want to know how I got started writing books with my current publisher.

It’s so baffling!

My simple answer – I prayed and asked God to allow me to write with a wonderful publishing company.

It was a request I made to the Lord over and over.

The longer answer is more involved…

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5 Secrets to Prayers That Get Answered

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For years, I’ve just faithfully added verses, quotes, and positive quotes to social media and my blog.

One day, an acquisitions editor from Callisto Media emailed me and asked to talk.

As we met over Zoom, I learned that this editor had been reading my Instagram posts for months, and keeping tabs on what I was doing online.

Truly, I had no idea that any publishers were watching or reading.

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Then Came the Contract

Within just a few days of that Zoom call, I had my first contract with Callisto to write Live in Light: 5-Minute Devotions for Teen Girls.

This little volume has now been purchased and read by thousands of girls around the world.

But, at the time, all I knew to do was pray and be faithful to what God had called me to do.

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Is God Paying Attention?

Perhaps you have been trying hard and serving faithfully for a long time and seeing no fruit.

Maybe you’ve been wondering why God hasn’t answered your prayers…

For that husband,

Or a particular job,

Maybe it’s for an open door,

Or, for money to come through.

Possibly it’s for healing in a relationship, 

Or it could be something for one of your children or grandchildren.

Possibly, you’d like to publish a book.

Or, it could be something else entirely.

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Perhaps you have been trying hard and serving faithfully for a long time and seeing no fruit. Click To Tweet

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Whatever the case, I’d like to propose 5 Secrets to Prayers That Get Answered.

These are biblical reasons that God answers prayers.

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First Secret – We must pray.

This may sound counterintuitive, but it is often so true.

We think about praying.

We talk about praying.

Indeed, we may even read about prayer, listen to podcasts or sermons about prayer, look to various Christian apps, and scour the Bible for passages on prayer.

But, do we open our mouths and talk to God?

Do we direct our minds, our emotions, our needs, and our problems toward heaven?

Even if you have never prayed, you can begin today.

Talk to God as you would talk to a good friend or family member. Share with Him what is on your heart.

As you begin, you will get more comfortable praying.

Honestly, you learn to pray by praying.

So, jump in and get going!

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Bottom Line – The first reason you may not be seeing an answer to your prayers – you aren’t asking for anything, only wishing.

Turn your eyes to heaven and pray.

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A first reason you may not be seeing an answer to your prayers – you aren’t asking for anything, only wishing. Click To Tweet

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“You do not have because you do not ask God.”

James 4:2b

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Second Secret – We must pray specifically.

If you listen to the way that most people pray in church, it’s pretty general.

People pray that God will heal the sick, bless the church, and forgive our sins.

Indeed, often we do the same thing when we talk to God. We rattle off phrases like – “bless us,” “protect us,” and “provide for us.”

But, I believe something amazing might begin to happen in your prayer life if you will start asking God for specific answers to specific needs.

In Mark 10:41, Jesus asked Blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?”

When we pray, we are telling God very specifically what we would like for Him to do for us!

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Examples of Praying Specifically

For example, if your children aren’t getting along, begin to ask God to bring sweetness into their relationships, kindness into the mix, and fun and laughter into your home.

If you need $350 for your electric bill, ask for it.

As you are trying to grow your Facebook or Instagram account, ask God to give you courage as you reach out to new friends and new people. Invite Him to grow your reach and your impact online.

In my life, I keep a spiral notebook where I write out very specific requests. Then, each morning, I lift up those requests to the Lord. As the prayers are answered, I note this and detail how God answered each prayer.

For just this last year, I’ve seen hundreds of specific answers to specific prayer requests!

It’s amazing!

And, it can be true for you as well.

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Bottom Line – A second reason you may not be seeing answers to your prayers – you are praying too generally.

Get more specific!

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A second reason you may not be seeing answers to your prayers – you are praying too generally. Click To Tweet

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Third Secret – We must pray regularly.

Have you ever opened a magazine or an article online because of some claim of an easy new way to lose weight?

But, once you get to the article, it still goes back to two basic principles.

To lose weight, you must eat better and exercise. If you do these two things regularly, you will look and feel better. Sadly, everything else is just hype!

And, in the Christian life, it’s pretty similar. There are two guiding principles to follow: we read the Bible, and we pray.

When we do these two things regularly, we have peace, we have joy, and life is just better.

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In Your Prayer Life

In your prayer life, you may grow weary by continuing to pray about something. It could be that you have been praying for months or even years.

Keep praying!

Don’t give up!

God is still working!

Your answer could be just around the corner.

It could even be coming tomorrow.

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Bottom Line – A third reason that we may not see answers to our prayers is that we stop praying short of the miracle happening.

Keep on praying!

Perhaps to assist you in greater prayer consistency, you might want to try one of these prayer apps.

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A third reason that we may not see answers to our prayers is that we stop praying short of the miracle happening. Click To Tweet

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“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Luke 11:9-10

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Fourth Secret – We must pray humbly.

When Jesus prayed, He would often add a caveat, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” (Luke 22;42)

When we pray, we always need to leave room for God to be God.

He knows best.

He does best.

And, He will do the best for us.

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 “God only wants for us, what we would want for ourselves—if we were smart enough to know what is best for us.”

(Adrian Rogers)

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One of the ways I’ve started praying is the way Priscilla Shirer taught that God is Able.

“Lord, please do this … or do something better!”

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Bottom Line – A fourth reason we may not see answers to our prayers is that they are not God’s best for us.

He has something much better!

We must trust Him!

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A fourth reason we may not see answers to our prayers is that they are not God’s best for us. Click To Tweet

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‘He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”’

Matthew 26:39

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Fifth Secret – We must pray thankfully.

Don’t you love it when the people around you are grateful and appreciative of you?

When you prepare and serve a great meal, don’t you enjoy gratitude from those who get to enjoy it?

After you do 100 loads of laundry for everyone else, it’s nice to get a little praise.

We all love to be thanked.

And, our God does too!

But, so often, we make endless requests to the Lord without ever offering up one single word of thanks or appreciation.

What if today, we just thanked God for all of the answered prayers, for His love, and His goodness in our lives?

I wonder how that might empower and ramp up our prayer lives.

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Bottom Line – A final reason we may not be seeing our prayers answered is that God is waiting for us to be grateful and appreciative of all He has already done.

Thank Him today!

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A final reason we may not be seeing our prayers answered is that God is waiting for us to be grateful and appreciative of all He has already done. Click To Tweet

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“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

Philippians 4:6

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So, what do you think?

Truly, I’ve only scratched the surface on this topic of prayer.

What are some other factors you’ve discovered in the way God answers prayers?

What keeps Him from answering our prayers?

And, what are your thoughts?

I’d love to hear from you!

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What are some other factors you’ve discovered in the way God answers prayers? Click To Tweet

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