The speed at which God answers prayers varies greatly. Some prayers are answered instantly, while others seem to remain unanswered for a long time.
Though there are many complexities involved in understanding how fast God responds, one factor stands out. If you understand this principle, you are much more likely to receive instant answers to your prayers.
This principle goes back to biblical times and still works today.
I first learned about this factor while watching an inspiring Christian documentary.
Seeking God’s Purpose over my life
At a certain point in my walk with God, I desired to know His call over my life. As usual, I prayed about it and spent as much time as I could praying in tongues.
While praying, I thought, “There is no way God would create me and not reveal His purpose for me. But if He doesn’t, then that means I cannot be accused of disobeying Him.”
However, I knew that God could hold me accountable for never seeking my purpose, which is punishable because I have been commanded to seek as Matthew 7:7 commands.
This awareness motivated me to continue seeking God’s guidance regarding my purpose.
It is in this pursuit that I began studying the lives of other men and women of God to understand how they discovered their purposes.
The Faith of Vivia Perpetua
While on this pursuit, I came across a documentary about a young woman in her early twenties whose faith profoundly moved me. Her name was Vivia Perpetua, and she lived in ancient Roman times.
At the time, Christianity was still new, with only a handful of people identifying themselves as Christians while the vast majority worshipped idols.
Having recently given her life to Christ, Perpetua was still learning to live as a Christian. Because Christianity was illegal, she was arrested and imprisoned, leaving behind her infant child.
Conditions in prison were so harsh that some prisoners actually died.
Perpetua’s vision
While in prison, Perpetua prayed to God, asking whether she would die in prison or be set free. That same day, she had a vision. She saw a ladder with all manner of sharp weapons leading to heaven, and at its foot was a huge serpent threatening anyone who tried to climb it.
In the vision, Perpetua stepped on the serpent’s head and ascended the ladder. She reached a beautiful, indescribable place where a Shepherd who was taking care of His sheep offered her something sweet to eat.
The vision ended as soon as she began eating.
From this vision, she understood that she would die in prison. In the following days, she faced many trials. Her family pleaded with her to abandon her faith, but she refused.
Eventually, she was sentenced to die in the arena by wild animals.
Interestingly, every prayer she offered throughout her trial was answered, often through visions.
Her success rate in prayer made me wonder why God answered all her prayers immediately. Was it possible for me to achieve the same?
The Mystery of Bearing God’s Name
In that moment, the Holy Spirit revealed a profound truth that makes God answer prayers instantly. He gave me Isaiah 48:11; For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.
The Holy Spirit made me understand that God will never share His glory with another.
Because Perpetua had chosen to die for Christ, she bore the name of Jesus completely. As a result, God guarded her and answered all her prayers instantly, just as He fulfills anything Jesus requests from the Father.
She had fully ceased to live for herself, and Christ lived in her as Galatians 2:20 states.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The Holy Spirit also explained that there are levels of dying for Christ, with the highest being martyrdom.
When you totally surrender so that Christ may be glorified, there is nothing the Lord will deny you.
Biblical examples
With this revelation, I became curious to know how to carry the name of God. That is when the Holy Spirit reminded me of biblical characters who bore the name of the Lord and received instant answers to their prayers.
First, Moses gave his life fully to God and chose to be used to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. As a result, God was faithful to answer Moses every time he prayed.
Second, Elijah risked his life by representing God against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Because Elijah bore the name of the Lord, God answered him when he called on Him to send fire to consume the sacrifice he had prepared.
The third example was Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who bore the name of the Lord when they refused to obey the king’s command to bow before the golden image. As a result, God was obligated to deliver them from the flames of the fiery furnace.
There are many more biblical examples that follow the same pattern, but the point is clear: if you want God to respond to your prayers instantly, you must give yourself fully to His name.
Conclusion
When your life becomes one with God’s name, your prayers will be answered immediately. To become one with His name, you must surrender everything and follow Christ completely.
This is why it is so important to seek God’s purpose for your life. Only when you are living in God’s purpose can you truly bear the name of the Lord and receive the assurance that all your prayers will be answered.
God bless you.