Prayer positions

1.      Standing (LUK 18:13).

2.      Sitting (ACT 1:14; 2:2).

3.      Lying down (2SA 12:16-20).

4.      Prostrated (MAT 26:39).

5.      Kneeling (DAN 6:10; LUK 22:41; ACT 20:36; 21:5).

6.      Bowing (GEN 18:2-3; EXO 34:8-9).

7.      Looking up to heaven (MAT 14:19; JOH 11:39; JOH 17).

8.      Lifting up holy hands (1TI 4:8; 1KI 8:54; PSA 141:2).

9.      With the laying on of hands (ACT 6:6).

God promises to answer prayer

What man says about answered prayer:
PSA 86:7    In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.
PSA 102:2  In the day when I call answer me speedily. 
PSA 118:5  I called on the Lord in distress and the Lord answered me.

God promises to answer your prayers:
PSA 91:15  Call on Me and I will answer.
ISA 65:24    Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
MAT 21:22  All things whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.
MAR 11:24  What things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

How to ask God and get answers

• Prayerfully: MAT 21:22 Ask in prayer.

• Persistently: Ask with persistence and don't let anything or anyone stop you. LUK 18:1-8 Pray always and do not give up.

• In Jesus’ Name: JOH 16:26 Ask in My Name and I will pray to the Father for you.

• In faith: JAM 1:6-7 Ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

• In unity: MAT 18:19 If two of you will agree on earth as touching any thing that they will ask, it will be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

God will not answer prayer:

• When we ask with wrong motives (JAM 4:3).
• When we have pride (MAT 6:5; 2CH 7:14).
• When we pray with useless repetition (MAT 6:7; ISA 1:15).
• When sin is not confessed (JER 5:25; ISA 59:2; PSA 66:12).
• When we do not have faith (HEB 11:6; MAT 21:22).
• When we are double-minded (JAM 1:6-8).
• When we neglect the poor (PRO 21:3; 28:27).
• When we do not pray is Jesus’ Name (JOH 14:6; 16:23).
• When we depend on man alone (2CH 16:12-13; 1SA 7-18; JER 17:5-7).
• When we do not forgive others (MAR 11:25-26).
• When we backslide (2CH 15:2; 24:20).
• When we reject Him or His Word (PRO 1:28-31; 28:9).
• When relationships are not right (1PE 3:7; MAT 5:23-24).
• When we do not ask in prayer (JAM 4:2; 1JO 5:14-15).

ASK (ask, seek & knock) for results:

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

• Asking indicates that something is lacking.
• Seeking indicates that something is missing or lost. 
• Knocking indicates that something is closed, inaccessible, and urgent.

Matthew 7:8  For everyone (that's you) who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

How to receive answers to your prayers:

1.      Ask God: If you never ask, you will never receive!:  JAM 4:2 You have not, because you ask not. Thank God He doesn’t give you everything you ask for!

2.      Obey God: 1JO 3:22 Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

3.      Know His will: 1JO 5:14  Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

4.      Live in His Word: JOH 15:7  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it will be done for you.

Why ask God for anything if He already knows what U need? (Mat 6:8)

You are to ask God in prayer for the following reasons: 

1. To exercise and develop personal faith in God (Mar 11:22-24)

2. To prove God's promises true: 2Co 1:20  All the promises of God in him are yes and amen to the glory of God by us.

3. To bring glory to God: Joh 14:13  Ask in my Name....that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

4. To show you depend on the Lord, not yourself or man: Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.

5. To demonstrate God's ability to provide for you: Phi 4:19 My God shall supply all your need.

6. To show God’s goodness to all men: Jam 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. Rom 2:4 Goodness of God leads you to repentance.

7. To bring fullness of joy: Joh 16:24  Ask and receive that your joy may be full.