The very first thing we need to remember is that we are commanded:
do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:31-34, NKJV)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him 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; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8, NKJV)
If we are ever to receive the blessings the Lord has promised to those "who diligently seek Him," (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV) we must approach the Father in Love and Faith. We must have settled within our hearts that the Lord loves us far more than we can possibly imagine: not only did He give us His very best in the sacrifice of of His Son Jesus Christ, but He is also continually working to transform us into His image.
Everyone wants to have his/her prayers answered, preferably in his/her timing. However, God is God, and we are not. The Lord has promised to answer every prayer that is in agreement with His nature and will, but has NEVER promised to answer any other petition. He may, if He desires, give us the desires of our hearts, while at the same time giving leanness to our souls, but that is His prerogative alone.
If we ask in the name of Jesus, the Lord will grant our request, but what does that really mean? To invoke a person's name was to claim that person's complete nature and authority. That is why the Lord has so many names (ex: Lord, Prince of Peace, God, Lord of Hosts, Lord our Healer, etc.). If we wish to invoke the Lord's name as a means of forcing the Lord to perform a task that is actually against His nature, He will either not answer that petition at all, or else answer in a way that is totally different from our expectations. Any request that demands that one or more of the Seven Spirits of God acquiesce at the expense of Her character will NEVER be granted! Proper requests will be granted at the proper time, but not necessarily when we would like.
Any prayer made without faith will likely NOT be granted, nor will any request that is against the Lord's will as revealed in Scripture (Spirits of Truth and Prophecy). If we truly desire to have our requests granted, then we must absolutely be sure that those requests are in accordance with the nature of the Seven Spirits of God. Even then, the Father has the prerogative of answering our requests in His timing. The Spirit of Wisdom demands patience, and the Spirit of Faith demands perseverance during any delay in the granting of our requests.
The key to having our requests granted is to ask in accordance with all of the Seven Spirits of God. Only then will our prayers be answered consistently.
