“When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6).

Let’s carefully examine two of the words used in this scripture to describe how our Heavenly Father promises to answer our prayers. These words are reward and openly. Here are their definitions from the World English Dictionary:

Reward, n. A benefit obtained as a result of an action taken or a job done; something positive that follows a desired response and acts to encourage desired behavior.

Openly, adv. Willingly, responsively, directly, truthfully, publicly, sympathetically.

As the meanings of these words sink in, we willingly desire to go to our “room” (private place), shut the door and pray to our Father. Our room is not the only place we pray, but also a state of mind; the mental attitude in which we pray. This environment provides a private place for personal fellowship with God our Father—any time, any place.

In contrast, praying hypocritically is examined by Christ: “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward… And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:5, 7-8).

I’m reminded of an example of “vain repetition” I saw some years ago when on assignment in Saudi Arabia. The king’s brother, Prince Mamdouh Al-Saoud, invited us to a meeting and banquet in the desert near the Red Sea, some 70 miles southwest of Jeddah.

We took off across the desert sands, “cruising” between 60-75 miles per hour, and it quickly became evident this was more of a race to see which vehicle could “nudge” closest in line behind the limo of the Prince.

A professor from the University and I were the only ones in our vehicle with Richard, our driver. We raced along in the dust, literally leaving the ground when encountering sand mounds. Richard was determined to move forward from our present ninth position. As the lead car turned a partial corner, we cut out of line and headed “cross-country,” aiming at fourth position. I turned to check on the professor, but did not immediately see him. Looking over the back of the seat, I saw him on the floorboard praying, repeating the same words over and over, looking down, then looking up with fear filled eyes.

As we approached the line of vehicles, it seemed certain we would crash into one of them. Then, like magic, a space opened behind car four and we found ourselves fifth in line. The professor slowly returned to his seat. Repetitious babbling was what he had been taught to do by his mentor. This is quite different from the instructions of our Teacher.

How does our Heavenly Father answer prayer?

Does God always answer our prayer in the manner we desire at the time of our request? Are we sure our notion of answered prayer is always the correct one? And if an answer is provided differently than we expect, are we discouraged or disappointed?

Sometimes we receive an immediate answer to our petitions. I well remember one of these immediate answers early in my ministry. After giving the sermon, one Sabbath in Shreveport, LA, a brother in his mid-eighties requested prayer and anointing for his wife, also in her mid-eighties. She was at home in bed with severe back pain. My wife and I, and several brethren, accompanied him to their home.

We knelt at her bedside before our Creator. When I removed my hands following the anointing and prayer, she did not move or make a sound. Had she passed out? I quickly asked, “Are you okay?” She opened her eyes and said, “I don’t have any pain at all, and I’m afraid to move.” She slowly began to move to the edge of the bed, sat up, stood up, bent over, nearly touching the floor with her hands, then straightened up and repeated the exercise—both crying and laughing at the same time. We joined her with joy and sincere gratitude toward our Father, the Almighty Healer and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Although this prayer was answered immediately, more often we receive answers that come over time. As we watch and pray, we hope we are developing good fruit in our life, praying to always know and do His will.

One of the ways God answers prayer in a way that has multiple benefits. I call it opportunity-answered prayer, or answered prayer through opportunity.

The key word is opportunity—opportunity to grow in grace and knowledge while we are receiving answers to our requests. This method of answering prayer includes one’s personal involvement and participation.

How many of us have prayed for courage? When watching and reflecting on my own experience, the answer to praying for courage often came by way of an opportunity to be courageous. Opportunity was provided, but I had to choose, in faith, to accept the opportunity or reject it. In reality, the choice was mine to accept or reject my Father’s answer.

Through this process of answered prayer, we receive and retain the courage to meet the challenge again and with expanded courage to meet even greater challenges. We develop not only more courage, but also more confidence, experience more peace of mind and less fear, and have strengthened faith. We grow in Godly character, truly encouraged.

We pray for faith—we are given opportunity to be faithful

We pray for strength; our Maker may provide opportunities to be strong, to stand strong, to make a difference. And as we meet the opportunity with faith and more courage, we become stronger, more resolute and steadfast in righteousness. This can challenge be an answered prayer.

We pray for knowledge—He provides opportunity to learn

Psalm 111:10 says, “A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.” We pray for understanding; He sometimes provides opportunity to receive understanding. We step out in faith and act on an opportunity. We make a decision to accept God’s word, and as we do, we begin to receive understanding of why: its purpose, its value and benefits. Again, answered prayer.

David ran into action to keep and guard the commandments of his God, the Almighty, and became a man after His heart. As we do the same, we continue to grow in grace, in knowledge, in understanding, and in Godly character. We too become a person after the hearts of our Father and Savior. And as we continue to observe these laws of freedom as a way of life, we continue to grow in Godly character, purging (and replacing) the ways of the god of this world with the way of the Kingdom of Heaven (Hebrews 9:13-14, New International Version).

Is not the ultimate purpose of answered prayer a purifying of conscience and heart resulting in a mature Godly character, a continuing walk in physical and spiritual healing and maturing in righteousness for the rest of our natural life and beyond? Absolutely.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Seeking, knocking and asking include personal action and personal involvement. When we pray, we need to be alert and watching for opportunity to participate in receiving our request. In the middle of a raging flood, mentally or physically, we pray for rescue. But when a boat or airlift opportunity arrives, we must take action to get on board to be saved.

We praise God in prayer, with thanksgiving, and within the loving guidelines of His laws. In this environment, we can be confident we are making our praises, petitions, and requests according to His will. And as we do, we know we will receive that for which we ask, either directly or through opportunity—every time!

Included in this, we must fully accept His timing, even when we offer up urgent requests. Our faith and trust is that He always has our best interest at heart. Truly, this is the way to peace—peace of mind and inner tranquility!

Let’s review how opportunity-answered prayer relates to the fruits of the spirit. If we pray for…

Love, God gives us an opportunity to express and demonstrate love to Him and to others. And, as we do, additional character is developed in us and we become more loving.

Joy, we pray for joy and are often given opportunity to provide a joyful environment for others. And when we do, we receive and share in the joy.

Peace, we are given opportunity to be a peacemaker.

Longsuffering (patience), we are given opportunity to exercise patience.

Kindness, we are given opportunity to be kind, to offer and demonstrate kindness and we become a kinder person.

Goodness, we are given opportunity to do good, thus strengthening good character.

Faithfulness, we are given opportunity to be faithful and our faith increases.

Gentleness (meekness), we are given opportunity to be gentle, to be meek, and we become more gentle. (Proverbs 15:1)

Self-control, we are given opportunity to exercise control over our personal behavior.

The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit our Father and Savior in us produces. It is up to us to harvest the fruit, lest it decay on the vine, fall to the ground and return to the dust from which it came. God gives us the chance to harvest these fruits through opportunity-answered prayer.

What a joy! What a privilege! What an opportunity!

Further reading

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