2 Chronicles 6:21

So Listen to the requests of Your servant and Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from your dwelling place, from heaven, and when You hear, forgive.  Our unforgiveness or unconfessed sins can hinder our prayer. God is blocked from working on our behalf when we let sin stop our prayers. When we quickly confess our sins, we remove any hindrances to answered prayer. We are to judge ourselves and acknowledge when we know we have erred from the word of God

1 John 4:15

And if we know (for a fact, as indeed we do) that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we know (with settled and absolute knowledge) that we have (granted to us) the requests which we have asked from Him.  

Our faith begins when the prayer ends. We pray to God according to His will and the word for our requests. God hears our prayers, and we stand in faith for our answer. We are removing any doubts from our minds and walking in peace that He has heard.  

1 John 5:14

This is the (remarkable degree of) confidence which we (as believers are entitled to) have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, (that is consistent with His plan and purpose) He hears us.

Prayer is our connection to God, and God wants us to pray. When we pray, we need to know that what we ask for lines up with the word. Our prayers are not seeking selfish things according to the flesh—however, prayers for healing, wisdom, direction, and financial increase, all according to the word. 

1 Corinthians 11:28-29

But a person must (prayerfully) examine himself (and his relationship to Christ), and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks (without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ), eats and drinks a judgement on himself if he does not recognize the body (of Christ).

We all need a heart checkup to ensure we are where we should be in our spirit.  We don’t want to take the sacrifice of Jesus lightly because Jesus gave all to save us.  We need to honor the sacrifice, purify our hearts, and remove any hindrances between Jesus and us. It can take a second to change our attitude and get back in the flow of the spirit. 

1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the (Holy) Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the things freely given to us by God.  We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (for those being guided by the Holy Spirit).

The Holy Spirit is our guide and teaches and reveals things that we could not know without His help.  The Holy Spirit has a definite purpose of helping us fulfill our call on this earth.  We must stay sensitive to the inner voice and respond quickly to direction.  God is more able to move in our lives the more available we make ourselves to guidance.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 

Just look at your own calling, believers; not many (of you were considered) wise according to human standards, not many of high and noble birth.  But God has selected (for His purpose) the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (revealing their ignorance), and God has selected (for His purpose) the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong (revealing their frailty).

A prideful person is hard to lead.  That is why God will choose people he knows are humble and willing to follow Him.  God is the all-knowing creator and knows our strengths and weaknesses.  We can rely on His guidance and wisdom and trust His word. 

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful (He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise- He can be depended on), and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The more we learn about God and that He acts on our behalf, the more we know we can trust Him.  God is waiting to help us daily, even in what we may consider simple.  Love does that, it wants to help, and we will thrive under the care of God as we stay in a close relationship

1 Corinthians 1:6-7

In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed and established in you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift (which comes from the Holy Spirit), as you eagerly wait (with confident trust) for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (when He returns).

God is on our side and will give us all the spiritual gifts we need to do what God has called us to do.  God will equip His saints here on earth in every task He asks us to do, whether to talk to a stranger about Jesus or pray for someone in need.  God will provide all that we need to complete the task.

Hebrews 11:1-2

Now Faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things, not seen (the conviction of their reality -faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses). For by this (kind of) faith the men of old gained (divine approval).

When we believe by faith, we are taking God at His word.  When we take God at His word, this means we are what God says we are, and we can have what God says we can have and do what God says we can do. We believe and don’t argue with God or doubt His word.  We believe! 

Isaiah 54:17

“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; and every tongue that rises again you in judgment you will condemn.  The (peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition) is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.

We have been made righteous through our salvation in Jesus Christ. When the accuser comes knocking at our door, we submit ourselves to the will of God and confess our sins. Next, we will cast down thought that doesn’t align with God’s will. The victory will be ours through Jesus Christ when we fight the good fight of faith and stand on the word of God.