1. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is"--and in His willingness to answer prayer--"that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). There are many who believe in the existence of God, but do not believe in the efficacy of prayer. They profess to believe in God, but deny the necessity or influence of prayer.
2. "What things so ever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24)
3. Suppose it is a time when wickedness prevails greatly, and you are led to pray for God's interference. What promise have you? This one: "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19).
4. When will God answer prayer? "While they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).
5. Praying for children - If a parent is conscious that he or she fears God, and keeps his covenant, and remembers all of God's commandments to do them, then that parent can believe and pray for God's mercy and righteousness over their children: "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them" (Psalm 103:17, 18).
6. There are many prophecies yet unfulfilled, in the Bible, which Christians are bound to understand, as far as they are capable of understanding them, and then make them the basis of believing prayer. Do not think, as some seem to do, that because a thing is foretold in prophecy it is not necessary to pray for it, or that it will come whether Christians pray for it or not. God says, "I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them" (Ezekiel 36:37).
7. If you find yourself drawn to desire a thing while in the exercise of such holy affections of the Spirit of God, you must pray for it in faith: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26, 27)
8. "If his son ask bread, will he give him a stone"? (Matthew 7:9).
9. You must persevere "Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him?" (Luke 18:7.)
10. Finally, be sure to walk every day with God. If you do, He will tell you what to pray for. Be filled with His Spirit, and He will give you objects enough to pray for.
If you do not know what to pray, simply begin by opening your mouth, or begin to type in your prayer, and the Lord will fill you with words:
I am also aware that I am speaking to an audience, among whom some of you are still sinners, and yet are inclined to pray, and then ask, why are my prayers not answered? Your prayers, sinner, if you examine them, are mainly for yourself. What about everybody else, are they not important too? As soon as you look away from yourself, the blessing will be poured out, and you will have the spirit of prayer to receive those things you ask.
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