In this article, I will discuss the verification process of prayers in heaven. This concept may be unfamiliar to some, but the truth is that prayers undergo a verification process in heaven. One may wonder how to know if there is a verification process in place and how it works.
The answer lies in the fact that prayers are either unanswered, answered instantly, or answered after a certain period of time. This indicates that there is a specific procedure that all prayers must go through for God to decide whether to answer them or not.
There are also prayers that are contradictory. Here is a scenario that I often illustrate; let’s consider a football match. Picture two teams with born-again coaches, both offering prayers to God before the game seeking victory.
These are two distinct prayers, yet ultimately, only one team can emerge as the winner. In light of this conflicting situation, how does God address such contradictory prayers?
Naturally, there is a system that determines which prayer God will answer. This article seeks to offer a deeper understanding of the prayer verification process as you learn how to make prayers that are acceptable to God.
Bringing glory to the Father and the Son
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.
John 14:13-14
In the above scripture, Jesus states that he will fulfill any request made in His name, with the purpose of bringing glory to the Father. The first requirement for a prayer to be answered in heaven, is that it must bring glory to the Father through the Son.
Therefore, every prayer that reaches heaven is evaluated based on whether or not it glorifies the Father through the Son.
As you may be aware, there are certain prayers that are motivated by selfish interests. The Book of James, mentions that some individuals pray but do not receive answers because their prayers are solely focused on their own selfish needs.
If one prays with such intentions, their prayer does not bring glory to God. As a result, it remains unanswered.
However, when we offer prayers that are selfless and glorify the Father through the son, they are automatically included in the list of prayers that require an answer.
Asking in the name of Jesus
In verse 14, Jesus presents the second condition; If you request anything in His name, He will fulfill it. It is crucial that every request is made in the name of Jesus. The reason behind this is that as human beings, we are sinful, and God answers prayers based on what is right and just.
In the eyes of God, we are all sinners until we accept Jesus Christ as our savior. Consequently, if you approach God directly without acknowledging Jesus, you are basically presenting yourself before Him in your own righteousness.
As a result, God may choose not to answer your prayers. The Bible even emphasizes that God does not listen to the prayers of sinners. Hence, if you disregard Jesus and approach God solely on your own accord, you are standing before Him without the covering of the righteousness of Christ.
If you approach God in the name of Jesus, it demonstrates your obedience to Christ and recognition of His sacrifice on the cross. In this case, God will consider your prayer based on the righteousness of Jesus.
These are the two primary conditions that apply to every prayer: first, God ensures that each answered prayer brings glory to Him, and secondly, our prayers must be offered in Jesus’ name. Any prayer directed towards Heaven that fails to acknowledge Jesus, is a prayer uttered by a sinner, as no one can offer an immaculate prayer due to our sinful nature.
Even so, it is not enough to simply conclude a prayer by saying “in Jesus’ name” if one’s character does not reflect Jesus.
Jesus Himself emphasized this in the Book of Matthew, warning that on the last day, those who claim to have done great things in His name will be rejected if their character does not reflect His teachings.
Therefore, when prayers are made, Jesus must verify that the person praying truly knows and honors Him. If Jesus does not know you, he will not acknowledge you before the father. This highlights the importance of sincerity in every prayer offered to God.
Praying in tongues
The final point to consider is regarding praying in tongues. As previously explained, the conditions above apply to every prayer. However, when it comes to praying in tongues, it is a prayer initiated by the Holy Spirit.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are unified as one. Therefore, a prayer made by the Holy Spirit perfectly aligns with the Father’s will and brings glory to the Son. For this reason, when you pray in tongues, your prayers are answered directly.
This is because it is a direct communication with God and does not require any verification, as it originates from the Holy Spirit who always speaks flawlessly. This is why praying in tongues holds immense power, and why every believer should strive to engage in this form of prayer.
By praying in tongues, you can be certain that every prayer you utter is a pleasing offering to God and will be answered accordingly.
I hope you find this helpful as you present your petitions before God. Blessings!