Which Prayer is granted

A devotee’s prayer never goes in vain. A man’s prayer is never wasted.

Belawal M5, 8l9-11

Whatever the devotee asks of the Lord is granted. Whatever the devotee desires of the Lord is granted at once.

Asa M5, 403-16

Whatever you ask of the Lord, He gives; oh Nanak, whatever a devotee says comes true.

Dhanasri M5, 681-19

Guru Sahib says that the Lord, the Father, has ordained that whatever a child asks shall be granted.

The Father has ordained that whatever a child asks shall be given to him.

Malar M5, 1266

In the Sura Momin of the holy Quran it is stated, "Cry to me and your request will be granted." Again it is said in the Sura Baker, "Oh Prophet: whenever any of my creatures asks you about Me, tell him that I am with him; if he cries, I hear him and grant his request."

It is said in the Bible:

What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

St. Mark 11:24

It is again stated:

Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

St. Mathew 7:7,8

It is seen, however, that people ask for thousands of things and all of their prayers are not granted. Then what is the meaning of the above words? Let us see which kind of prayer is granted, and why every prayer cannot be granted.

The prayer that can redeem sinners and cure physical, mental and spiritual disease must be made with full faith in the Lord and the conviction that He is all-powerful. Our feelings which have not found utterance are not hidden from Him. He is cognizant of every feeling and thought. He knows the sufferings of both the good and the evil.

He knows what is within the heart; He knows the sufferings of both the good and the bad.

Pat Chaupai 10

The welling up of a strong desire is in reality the making of a prayer. If we should surrender our desires or acts to the Lord before expressing them, then there would be no obstacle in the way of success.

That prayer is right which is full of yearning and pangs. It should be made with patience and full confidence, and with a loving heart, in all humility and submission.

Oh mind! stand in awe of the Lord. However low, even the lowest of the low, He calls him to Him.

Devgandhari M5, 529-8

Prayers should be made according to the directions of the Master and in order to reform one's life. When you pray in this way, you express gratitude for favours received. Gratitude cannot be expressed by mere words that have no connection with our conduct. Since the Master is the Shabd and the Shabd is His form, He is in the Shabd. He who makes the Shabd a part of his life becomes dear and acceptable to the Master. He says, "If you love me, do as I say".

The words of the Master are words of bliss; They are nectar itself.

Kanara M4, 1311

Christ said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." In order that the prayer may be acceptable, it is necessary that the disciple should be devoted to the Master and His words should dwell in the heart. He can then ask for anything and it will be given to him. Feel happy in remembering the Lord and he will fulfil your desires.

Christ says:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

St. John 15:7

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

If you crave forgiveness for your sins, you should first forgive others and then pray.

Christ says:

When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

St. Mark 11:25

The situation is, therefore, that when we commit any bad act and ask forgiveness of the Lord, He then forgives us; but at the same time He warns us, "Beware, go and do not do it again." Christ, when he forgave a woman for committing adultery, said, "Go and sin no more."

A judge may reduce a sentence, but this does not mean that the criminal will become a better man. He may well do the same evil deeds again. But according to the spiritual law by which the Master forgives sin, he also tells the sinner to sin no more, so that he may turn away from sin and may be able to enter higher regions. What good can it do a man to cry, if he goes on taking poison? It is very necessary for him to stop taking poison. How can prayer be of any help if there is no sincere aversion to doing sinful deeds?

Ceaseless effort to make our life pure and truthful is true prayer. This draws to us the mercy of the Lord, and His Grace and limitless blessings then fulfil the sincere and pure desires of our heart. By merely asking of the Lord or the Master that we may love Him, we do not, as a matter of fact, begin to love Him. But if we consciously pray for a truthful and pure life and try to elevate our life, we will then be moulded as He wills and will begin to realize His presence and to share His love.

To pray effectively, it is necessary that we should conduct our life as desired by the Master, and that we should experience happiness in the remembrance of the Lord. Our prayers should be in harmony with the will of the Lord and the Master, and we should feel happy in whatever He wills. A peculiarity of human life is the love that knows how to give, but not how to take. But one becomes entitled to all the powers of the Lord by loving Him. He benefits the world through them, but remains aloof from all. We have to love the Lord. It is His will to give or not to give to us. Our duty is to remain happy in the sphere of His will. It is, therefore, considered unbelief for the Saints to pray.

Maulana Rumi says that Saints rejoice in the will of the Lord.

They consider it unbelief to pray, "Oh Lord! take away this suffering from me."

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