7 Times Men’s Prayers were Answered by God

 

Patterns of Effective Prayer (in the King James Bible):

The Bible contains numerous accounts of prayers that received direct and clear responses from God. Below is a compilation of seven powerful examples of men whose prayers were answered in remarkable ways, along with the circumstances surrounding each prayer and principles we can learn from them.

1.   Hezekiah’s Prayer for Healing

Circumstances Leading to Prayer

Hezekiah, king of Judah, became “sick and near death” at the age of 39. This occurred during the time of the Assyrian invasion when Jerusalem was under threat. The prophet Isaiah delivered a sobering message from God: “Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live” (2 Kings 20:1)16. This direct declaration from God presented Hezekiah with what appeared to be an unchangeable fate.

The Prayer

Upon hearing this devastating news, Hezekiah responded immediately with heartfelt prayer: “Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, ‘Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly” (2 Kings 20:2-3)16. His prayer was characterized by intense emotion and an appeal to his faithful service to God.

Results After Prayer

God’s response was swift and merciful. Before Isaiah had even left the middle court, God sent him back with a new message: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen years” (2 Kings 20:5-6)14. Not only did God heal Hezekiah, but He also promised to deliver Jerusalem from Assyrian invasion. As confirmation, God provided a miraculous sign by causing the shadow on the sundial to move backward ten degrees18.

2.   Abraham’s Intercession for Sodom

Circumstances Leading to Prayer

After hosting three visitors (the Lord and two angels appearing in human form), Abraham learned that God was about to investigate and potentially destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. This placed Abraham in a difficult position as his nephew Lot and his family lived in Sodom.

The Prayer

As “the men turned from there and went towards Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord” (Genesis 18:22)19, Abraham began a remarkable negotiation with God. He approached God with humility yet boldness, asking if the city would be spared if fifty righteous people were found there. When God agreed, Abraham continued to negotiate downward-to forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten righteous people. Throughout his intercession, Abraham acknowledged God’s justice while appealing to His mercy: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)15.

Results After Prayer

God agreed to each of Abraham’s requests, promising not to destroy Sodom if even ten righteous people were found there. Although the city ultimately did not contain ten righteous individuals and was destroyed, God remembered Abraham’s prayer by rescuing Lot and his daughters from the destruction17. This demonstrates that while God may not always answer prayers exactly as requested, He honors the heart behind the intercession.

3.  Elijah’s Prayer on Mount Carmel

Circumstances Leading to Prayer

Israel had fallen into Baal worship under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. A severe drought had come upon the land as God’s judgment. Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to a public demonstration on Mount Carmel to determine the true God. After the prophets of Baal failed to get a response from their deity despite hours of frenzied activities, Elijah prepared to call upon the Lord.

The Prayer

Elijah rebuilt the Lord’s altar using twelve stones representing the tribes of Israel. After preparing the sacrifice, he had it drenched with water three times until everything was saturated. Then he prayed a simple but powerful prayer: “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again” (1 Kings 18:36-37).

Results After Prayer

Immediately “the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38). The demonstration was so powerful that all the people fell on their faces and declared, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!” This public vindication led to the execution of the false prophets and eventually to the end of the drought.

4. Daniel’s Prayer for Understanding

Circumstances Leading to Prayer

Daniel, while in Babylonian exile, was studying Jeremiah’s prophecy about the seventy years of Jerusalem’s desolation. Realizing that this period was nearing completion, he set himself to seek God’s face regarding the future of his people and Jerusalem.

The Prayer

Daniel’s prayer (Daniel 9:1-19) began with confession-both personal and national. He acknowledged Israel’s sin and God’s righteousness in judgment while appealing to God’s mercy and covenant faithfulness. He prayed: “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name” (Daniel 9:19).

Results After Prayer

While Daniel was still speaking, the angel Gabriel appeared to him with this message: “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved” (Daniel 9:23). Gabriel then gave Daniel profound prophetic insight regarding the future of Jerusalem and the coming Messiah, revealing God’s larger plan for redemption.

5. Solomon’s Prayer at Temple Dedication

Circumstances Leading to Prayer

After seven years of construction, Solomon had completed the Temple in Jerusalem. The ark of the covenant was brought into the Holy of Holies, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple as a cloud. This momentous occasion called for dedication.

The Prayer

Standing before the altar with hands spread toward heaven, Solomon offered one of the longest recorded prayers in Scripture (1 Kings 8:22-53). He praised God’s uniqueness and faithfulness, asked for God’s continued presence, requested divine forgiveness for future sins, and petitioned for God’s intervention in various national circumstances including war, drought, and exile.

Results After Prayer

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Later, the Lord appeared to Solomon and said: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me” (1 Kings 9:3). God promised to establish Solomon’s throne if he walked faithfully, but also warned of consequences if Israel turned to idolatry.

6.  Jabez’s Prayer for Blessing

Circumstances Leading to Prayer

In a brief genealogical mention in 1 Chronicles, we meet Jabez, whose name meant “pain” because his mother bore him in pain. Little else is known about his circumstances, but his name suggested a life potentially marked by struggle.

The Prayer

The Bible records Jabez’s simple but profound prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” (1 Chronicles 4:10).

Results After Prayer

The Scripture simply states: “And God granted him what he requested.” This straightforward account demonstrates God’s willingness to answer sincere prayer, even from someone who might otherwise be unremarkable in biblical history.

7.   Joshua’s Prayer for the Sun to Stand Still

Circumstances Leading to Prayer

Joshua was leading Israel in battle against a coalition of Amorite kings. Though the Israelites were prevailing, daylight was running out before their victory could be complete.

The Prayer

In one of the most audacious prayers in Scripture, “Joshua spoke to the Lord… and said in the sight of Israel, ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon'” (Joshua 10:12). This bold request asked for nothing less than a suspension of the normal operation of the cosmos.

Results After Prayer

The Bible records that “the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies” (Joshua 10:13). Scripture emphasizes the uniqueness of this answer: “And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man” (Joshua 10:14).

 

Key Principles for Effective Prayer

From these powerful examples, several principles emerge that can guide our own prayer lives:

1. Pray with Sincerity in Earnest

Hezekiah “wept bitterly” in his prayer, showing that God responds to genuine emotion and sincerity. Effective prayer comes from the heart, not just the lips.

2. Appeal to God’s Character and Promises

Many of these prayers referenced God’s past faithfulness, promises, or character. Abraham appealed to God’s justice, while Daniel referenced God’s covenant promises. Effective prayer is grounded in who God is and what He has promised.

3. Be Bold and Persistent in Intercession

Abraham demonstrated holy boldness in his negotiation with God, persistently advocating for mercy. As Genesis 18:22 shows, “Abraham still stood before the Lord”19, illustrating the privilege and power of standing in the gap for others.

4. Pray with Specific Purpose

Each prayer had a clear purpose. Elijah prayed specifically for God to demonstrate His power and turn hearts back to Him. Joshua’s prayer was targeted to the immediate need for extended daylight. Effective prayer identifies concrete needs.

5. Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty

These men approached God with reverence, acknowledging His right to act according to His will. Even in bold requests, there was an underlying submission to God’s ultimate wisdom.

6. Pray for God’s Glory

Effective prayers, like Elijah’s on Mount Carmel, ultimately seek God’s glorification. As noted regarding Hezekiah, “The Lord surely did glorify himself in answering Hezekiah’s prayer. The Lord calls us then to pray seeking his glory”20.

7. Expect God to Answer

These men prayed with expectation that God would respond. This confident faith is a hallmark of prayers that receive clear answers from God.

By studying these examples of answered prayers, we can approach God with greater understanding of how to pray effectively, realizing that the God who answered these men’s prayers thousands of years ago is the same God who hears our prayers today.