By Muoka Lazarus

Luke 18:35-42 says: “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

*Pastor LAZARUS MUOKA

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee”.

Those who wish to receive a quick answer of their prayer must be definite in prayer. The above case among others has attested to the fact that the principle of receiving quick answer to prayers is hinged on the ability to be exact in prayer request. Though Christ knows all our wants, but he will want to know them from us.

He asked the blind man “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” Everybody presence during that encounter knew that the man was blind and needed above all things the restoration of his sight. And this was done when he stated in a clear term what his demand was. ‘Lord, that I may receive my sight’ he poured out his soul before the Lord who instantly granted his prayer. In any given occasion, we must be particular in our prayers.

Our Lord Jesus needed us to be definite in our prayer so that we would not forget the source of our supply and give credit to another. By spreading our case before God, with a particular representation of our wants and burdens, we teach ourselves to value the mercy we are in pursuit of. All those praying today without receiving any answer from the Lord are certainly not praying aright.

Proverb 1:28 says: “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:”

And so if you are among these people that pray confusing prayers, without faith and definite goals; the Lord may not give you immediate answer.

Ezekiel 8:18 says: “Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.”

Consider the Almighty God whom you make your prayers to and do not just go on rambling in prayers, consider also approach-ing Him in holiness and with definite goal and He will answer. When some people in the Bible era approached Him, He asked them ‘what wilt thou that I do unto thee’?  and as they specified their needs, the Lord granted answers to their prayers. The blind man said in his encounter with Jesus that he wished to receive his sight and he got quick answer. When-ever you specify your needs, the Lord always answers.

I Samuel 1:7-20 says, “Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Count not thine handmaid for a daugh-ter of Belial: for out of the abund-ance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.”

This woman prayed a definite prayer to the Lord but before Eli the priest this prayer was not audible.  When it became obvious to him of her request, he blessed her and the Lord granted her petition. The Lord corrected this error of people in time past of praying without definite goal or need.  He did it for the blind man, the two blind men, Hannah and etc. This is the standard of required for immediate answer.

Psalm 2:8 says: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utter-most parts of the earth for thy po-ssession.”

The Lord wants you to be de-finite, to tell Him of your needs and desires, of the very need of your life; as you obey this leading, He will grant your requests in Jesus name. We should not make the mistake which those people in the Bible era made and missed their blessing from God but rather we should approach Him always with definite or specific needs coupled with faith and as we do this, whatever be the need, the Lord will answer.

Let us avoid too many words without faith like the hypocrites do, and come to the Lord by faith to obtain our blessings not with complaints or shouting but crying with a definite request. As you pray accordingly, God will surely answer you in Jesus name.