Yes. Because of Jesus, believers pray with bold confidence that God hears them, not on the basis of their own worthiness but on the basis of Christ's. Scripture also calls us to pray in faith, in His will, with unconfessed sin dealt with, and with hearts that do not ask selfishly.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
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He hears those who come through Christ
This is the confidence we have in Him: if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know He hears us, we know we have what we asked. Because of Jesus we draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. To ask in His name is to ask according to who He is and what He wants, and the Father delights to answer that.
“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Hindrances are real: unconfessed sin and selfish motives
If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not listen. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your pleasures. The Lord's hand is not too short to save, but your iniquities have made a separation.
If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn’t have listened.If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Behold, Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; neither his ear heavy, that it can’t hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.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.
Let him ask in faith, without doubting. Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. We keep what we ask in alignment with God's revealed will, and we ask in faith, because He rewards those who seek Him.
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.