As my fine wife, Bev and I were in special prayer for our partners...God allowed us to see the intense spiritual battle faced by some our partners and His many children.

We felt the concern of His children over their prayers going seemingly unanswered.

You may have been praying for changes in your finances...a new job or a promotion...a healing for your body...turning lack into more than enough or overcoming addictions to alcohol, drugs or sin…but your answer hasn’t manifested…yet.

As we were praying. . .our attention was turned to Daniel 10:12-13 where He drew a direct parallel to what happened to Daniel and what may be happening to you.

“Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words.”

Here are seven keys to getting your prayers answered.

1.      Fear Not

I vividly remember the first time I heard 1 Corinthians 12:22 in the New Living Translation.  I immediately knew it was a verse that should be taught and/or quoted on a regular basis.

I knew God would use this verse to touch and change people’s lives who feel they are weaker or less important to Him as others.

The entire verse of 1 Corinthians 12:22 in the New Living Translation says:

“In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.”

As I was re-reading that verse God immediately gave me seven reasons why you and every other believer are strong, important and necessary to the Body of Christ.

Before getting to the seven reasons you are necessary I want to share 1 Corinthians 12:22 in two other translations.

First, the Contemporary English Version of 1 Corinthians 12:22, says:

"In fact, we cannot get along without the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest."

Second, the New International Reader’s Version of 1 Corinthians 12:22, says:

“In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without.”

If I had a penny for every time someone said to me. . . “the enemy is just trying to hold me down” or “my circumstances are holding me back”. . .I would be able to pay for my dream trip of two weeks in Bora Bora.

When people say that to me my usual response is. . .you know. . .you’re right. . and I don’t want to know your circumstances.

Dictionary.com defines circumstances as:

“a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner, agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor”

Spiritually speaking. . .I define circumstance as the circle you’re standing in.

We shouldn’t be standing still. . .we should be moving from glory unto glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

In which case, we would be leaving our circumstances behind.

So for me. . .the question is why do I want to hear about what the person ought to be leaving behind.

Every time someone painstakingly reviews, renews and refreshes their circumstances they are forcing themselves to live them again.

We don’t need to revive our current dilemma . . .we need to seek answers. . .ways to rise above our circumstances. . .whatever they may be.

However … in a chronic circumstance… it may call for changing how we view those circumstances.

There is absolutely, no doubt that God wants you manifesting biblical success in your life.

It’s important to understand the significance of biblical success. . .that’s where you and everyone around you. . .recognizes that God makes you successful.

Deuteronomy 30:9 in the New Century Version says:

“The Lord your God will make you successful in everything you do. You will have many children, your cattle will have many calves, and your fields will produce good crops, because the Lord will again be happy with you, just as he was with your ancestors.”

Did you notice that first sentence in this passage of scripture says:  “The Lord your God will make you successful in everything you do. . .”

First off, He’s not just any God.  He’s your God. . .your personal God, the one who has your picture on His refrigerator. Yes, He loves you that much!

Second, He will make you successful in EVERYTHING you do.  Not just some things.  Or the most pressing or important things.  No, He, the Lord God Almighty, is going to make you successful in ALL you do.

The key to our biblical success is our obedience to His instructions.

Joshua 1:7 in the New Century Version says:

“Be strong and brave. Be sure to obey all the teachings my servant Moses gave you. If you follow them exactly, you will be successful in everything you do.”

Our obedience to God’s instructions as a pre-requisite for our success is mentioned several other times in scripture as well.

Have you ever been around someone who says that God is always telling them. . .this or that?

Let me quickly say that I’m not in any way necessarily criticizing or condemning those who say such.  Because I know from personal experience that God not only does but desires to speak to us.

Does the enemy use those to whom He speaks or hears His voice make you feel like you somehow don’t measure up spiritually?

I can tell you without equivocation. . . God would never do that.

Galatians 6:4 in the Classic Amplified Bible says::

“But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.”

Don’t worry about what others say. . .God said to them.  Just be concerned about yourself and the ways God can use to direct you in the path He would have you follow.

Here are seven ways to get God’s personal direction for your life.

First, God will lead you through His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: