Answered Prayer: The Keys to Recieving {Part 2}

We are in part two of a series on unlocking the answer to prayer:  "The Keys to Receiving".  In Part 1, I mentioned the first key to receiving is having clean hands and a pure heart.  See this link to read Part 1.  
http://www.livingfreeinhim.blogspot.com/2012/01/answered-prayer-keys-to-receiving-part.html

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  1 John 3:21-23

Again, we see the first key mentioned above.  To have confidence before the Lord, we need to have clean hands and a pure heart that does not condemn us.  Jesus paid the price for us to have a clean and pure heart. 

So often, we think we have to earn our way to a clean heart.  Beloved, we already have a clean heart if we belong to the Lord and have asked Him to forgive us of our sins!  We CAN have that confidence toward God it says above.  However, we cannot continue to live in habitual sin and have it!  We have to keep His commandments and do what pleases the Lord.  When we mess up, we then have to go to Him with a sincere heart that is sorry and a desire to live right.   

For too long, I lacked confidence toward God because I didn't believe I was forgiven!  I was forgiven.  I just wouldn't receive it from the Lord because I didn't feel I deserved it.  None of us deserve it, but that is the beauty of grace.     
 

We have to be vigilant in examining our hearts.  The heart can be deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).  It will condemn us when we are innocent and it will tell us we are fine when we are fallen.  The only way to be certain of the condition of our heart is to go to the Lord frequently for examination and cleansing.  If you abide in the Lord, you will be able to hear your heart correctly.  


Sin hinders us from receiving from the Lord.  Sin also hinders our relationship with the Lord.  Living right, obeying His commandments and pleasing Him allows for answered prayer. 

 
The second key to receiving from the Lord: Keeping His Commandments and living a life that pleases Him


It said in the verse above, "Whatever you ask you will receive from Him".  That is exciting!  We achieve a heart that pleases the Lord when we abide in Him.  When we abide in Him and His Word, we KNOW His will and His heart.  As a result, our prayer requests and His will line up.  It is so good to have a clean and pure heart and to know God is pleased.

The third key to receiving is.....stay tuned.... :  )