My roommate asked me today why her prayers weren’t being answered. While I don’t know the exact reason, I can speculate and offer some advice. Some people wonder why when they ask prayers in Jesus’ name why they aren’t being answered. They cite the "Ask, seek, knock," passage and to their dismay wonder why their doors aren’t being opened (Matthew 7:7).

God Is Omniscient (All-Knowing)
God says his ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). God is ultimately and infinitely greater than us humans. He knows when the right timing is for a prayer to be answered and He knows exactly the right way in which it should be answered. Someone once told me that God always answers prayers. His answers, my friend said, are "no, yes, or not yet." Those are all answers, you have to admit. Because God is God, only He knows everything that could affect our prayer request or our walk with Christ. He can see the mistakes we’ve made in the past, those we’re making and those we’re about to make (in the future). Because God is good, He would not answer a prayer in a way that would ultimately be harmful to us. The answers to our prayers that come from God must be consistent with the nature of a loving, all-knowing God.

God’s Will Is Good
Some prayers that we make, in fact many, are self-centered and founded on our wants. God knows all of our needs and will provide for them. Jesus says not to worry because God knows what we need and desires good things for us — this is consistent with the ways of a loving Father (Matthew 6:30-32). When we say the Lord’s Prayer (Jesus’ model for prayer), we say "([God]) Your will be done," not "my will be done," (Matthew 6:10). Why do we need to do things and ask for things in accordance with God’s will? He is God and deserves all glory. Therefore all good is credited to Him when we ask things to be done according to His will. When we ask in Jesus’ name we are citing the family name and power and also the will of the Father since Jesus said before His crucifixion, "not mine but [God’s] will be done," (Matthew 6:42). This was Jesus’ selfless attitude throughout His ministry on earth and should serve as a model as to how our attitudes should be when we ask things in His name.

His Words Remain In Us
Another reason our prayers may not be getting answered could be because we are not remaining in Christ and His words aren’t remaining in us. Jesus says if we remain in Him and His words in us we can ask anything in His name and our prayers will be answered (John 15:7). This is similar to what I said above. If His words remain in us we are asking things that are already promised to us in the bible — His Word. These things are in accordance with the Father’s will. It’s like praying using God’s Word, i.e. the Lord’s Prayer, or citing scripture where God gives a promise to His people.

Remain In Him
We can use all the Word we want in our prayers but if we aren’t doing God’s will we don’t meet the requirements specified in Jesus’ promise (see above (John 15:7)) and our prayers won’t be answered. If you are willfully sinning or resisting the Holy Spirit don’t expect it to work for you when you want something frivolous. Do understand though, that God is always looking for ways to bless His children. He wants good for our lives but can only help us so much when we are refusing to do His will. We don’t and won’t always understand His will that is why we need to trust Him when He gives a command because He knows what He is doing.

Praying in the Spirit is another way to pray within God’s will. When we don’t know what to pray for the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us.

Be Patient
If you still aren’t getting what you’ve been asking for and it’s within God’s will, you may need to just be patient. Perhaps you are under a season of trial where you need to wait on God and show your faithfulness by trusting in His faithfulness. A good rule of thumb is to wait on God for all major decisions until you receive confirmation that you are acting within His will. For instance, if you have a sudden impulse to quit your job or something drastic, pray about it and listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to you. Sometimes His response can be immediate or sometimes it can take a while. God’s timing is perfect in all circumstances. He works good out of everything for the good of His name and His children.

I pray that you will remain in God’s will when you pray and that when you ask the door will be opened unto you. Remember God is always there and hears all of our prayers.