I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing- 1 Tim 2:8
 

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working, planning nor knowledge nor wisdom - Ecclesiastes 9:10
 

What To Consider Before You Pray

The entire man must pray. The whole man, life, heart, temper, mind, are in it. Each and all join in the prayer exercise. Doubt, double-mindedness, division of the affections, are all foreign to the prayer closet. Character and conduct, undefiled, made whiter than snow, are mighty potencies, and are the most seemly beauties for the closet hour, and for the struggles of prayer.

PRAYER has to do with the entire man. Prayer takes in man in his whole being, mind, soul and body. It takes the whole man to pray, and prayer affects the entire man in its gracious results. As the whole nature of man enters into prayer, so also all that belongs to man is the beneficiary of prayer. All of man receives benefits in prayer.

The whole man must be given to God in praying. The largest results in praying come to him who gives himself, all of himself, all that belongs to himself, to God. This is the secret of full consecration, and this is a condition of successful praying, and the sort of praying which brings the largest fruits.

The men of olden times who wrought well in prayer, who brought the largest things to pass, who moved God to do great things, were those who were entirely given over to God in their praying. God wants, and must have, all that there is in man in answering his prayers.

He must have wholehearted men through whom to work out His purposes and plans concerning men. God must have men in their entirety. No double-minded man need apply. No vacillating man can be used. No man with a divided allegiance to God, and the world and self, can do the praying that is needed - E. M. BOUNDS

 

Examples of Answered Prayer

When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven - 1 Kings 8:54 - There are many examples in the Scripture of men that spread out their hands to God to receive and answer from Him. That in itself is no secret key to open the heart of God for answers, but there is a disposition of the heart that raises itself to look to God as the source of tender mercies expecting to receive them.......

Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm." So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea."   So he went up, looked, and said, "There's nothing."  Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." On the seventh  time, he reported, "There's a cloud as small as a man's hand coming from the sea."  Then Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Get [your chariot] ready and go down so the rain doesn't stop you.' " - 1 Kings 18:41-44 - Elijah humbled himself to the ground, prostrating himself with his head between his knees, his whole being and whole heart into the request that he asked from God.......

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before - Daniel 6:10 - The prayers of Daniel were not just from habit, though there is no better habit to have than prayer, it was a thankful and persistent prayer. He was on his knees to ask God for his safety and deliverance..........