There is no manifestation without preparation. Every encounter with God is born out of adequate preparations.

“…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” James 5:16 (AMP)

Prayer has its root in the heart. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7, …For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

The heart is what matters most to God. That is the place of communion between Him and man. It is the altar upon which the sacrifices of praise and the incense of prayers are offered.

In other words, it is not what we do or say outwardly that guarantees a release from heaven, but what goes on in our hearts. In fact, what becomes of us ultimately in the Kingdom is a function of what goes on in our hearts.

“Now Hannah, she SPAKE IN HER HEART; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken”. 1 Samuel 1:13 (Emphasis Mine)

She spoke in her heart, but God heard her. Everybody may be commending you for what they see of you outwardly, but God rates you by what He sees in your heart. That means, there is no outstanding answer to prayers without first an outstanding preparation in the heart. God does not reckon with the outward appearance, neither is He moved by physical efforts; what moves Him is our hearts. Therefore, our hearts must be set for an encounter with Him when we pray.

Since that is the determining factor in receiving answers to prayers, the heart must be adequately prepared to ensure that the exercise does not end in futility. It is clear from Scriptures that an unprepared heart is not likely to get a response from heaven.

“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.” Proverbs 16:1

Before Elijah’s mount Carmel victory, the first thing he did was to repair the broken down altar, which in the New Testament order represents the heart (1 Kings 18:30). If anything has tampered with God’s altar in your life, then get set to repair it; because until that is done, communication in prayer cannot be established.

If we must encounter God in our prayers; then, we must prepare for Him (Matthew 3:3). How do you prepare for Him?

CONSECRATION

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4

Preparing your heart in purity is the first step to establishing a viable communication link with God, because prayer can only flow when sin is absent. It takes a pure heart and pure hands to approach the presence of God. Whatever pollutes or corrupts your heart blocks your access to heaven’s hotline.

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” Isaiah 59:1-3

Sin is a barrier to prayers! God is continually angry with the wicked (Psalm 7: 11). So, He will not even hear him, much more answer his prayers. The Psalmist said, 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18

We cannot embrace sin and expect God to embrace us. Matthew 5:8 makes us understand that only the pure in heart should expect to see God in their affairs. So, if God must hear us, we must first hear Him.

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”  Proverbs 1:24-28

As long as we remain in sin, we will be out of touch with God. The only prayer of a sinner that gets to God is the prayer of repentance. Every unrepented sin blocks our communication line with God. It is only after God has heard your cry of repentance that He can hear your cry of affliction, because it is only after He has saved you from your sin that He is committed to save you from your troubles.

This is why many Christians have prayed and prayed, yet they remain oppressed; their sins have made the heavens over them like brass. Nothing gets through. They groan, shout, scream and wail, but all to no avail.

Any time God is about to stretch forth His hand in their direction, their sins come to remembrance and His mercy is turned off.

Do not let the devil deceive you into thinking that no one can make it in this race of holiness. God is not a waster, if He is building mansions in heaven, then people must definitely live there. For, without holiness no man can see God (Hebrews 12:14). There are righteous men on earth today, who are living triumphantly above sin and you can join them. You will be surprised to find out that you are the only one still indulging in that terrible habit, that you think everyone else indulges in. The Bible says,

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15

Any fox you allow to remain in your vine will constitute the greatest danger to your Christian life…

This text is an extract from the book “WINNING PRAYER” written by David O. Oyedepo. 
We invite you to read the following article “START OFF THE FIRE“.

HEART PREPARATION. HEART PREPARATION. HEART PREPARATION. HEART PREPARATION.