Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:19-21

Think about that thing that you are praying and believing God for? Honestly ask yourself if there is a possibility to “treasure” that thing? The thing about this is if you treasure it, it’s at have the potential to turn into an idol and God doesn’t want that for you.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. – Matthew 6:24

Having money is not a problem. The danger is when money has us and it becomes more important to us than God. The principle is not to allow a thing to take our devotion from God. Whatever you are asking God for, search your heart and check to see if it has the potential to take your devotion away from God. God must have our devotion if we are to receive the answer to our prayers.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. – 1 Timothy 6:6-9

Contentment is being at ease where you are and being thankful for what you have. It doesn’t mean complacency, you can still strive to do more. But you are at peace if you don’t get anything else. Consider what you are asking God for now and ask yourself are you content?? Are you at ease and thankful for what you have?? Give yourself an honest answer.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. – Matthew 6:7-8

God knows what you need before you ask him. So why do we still need to ask in prayer? Because God wants your fellowship. God wants to be in a close relationship with us. He wants us to come to him and depend on him to meet our every need. Are you having quality devotional time with God? Or are you just spending just enough time in prayer to ask for what you want and that’s it? Consider your ways!!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8

Jesus tells us to persist in perusing God. People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found. But knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow through. And Jesus assures us that we will be rewarded. Don’t give up in your efforts to seek after God. Sometimes God allows needs in our life because is causes us to rely on and have a closer relationship with him.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4

This verse speaks to delighting your self in Gods presence. Are you genuinely happy when you are having devotional time with God. Are you full of excitement and joy when you enter his house on a Sunday? Do you open His word with anticipation for what new insight you can receive through his Holy Spirit? When you delight yourself in the Lord, he will give you the desires of your heart.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. – Mark 6:4-6

The battle that you are fighting is against your faith. That is why the devil will try to get you to doubt Gods ability to meet your need. When you faith in God is in question, this could be a reason for the answer to your prayer to be delayed. This is also the reason why this podcast exist. To encourage your faith so that God can do miracles on your life.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; – Psalm 66:18

Is there some habitual sin that you have not repented from? This will clearly prevent God from answering your prayers. Deal with the sin in your life first by repenting and turning away from it and then bring your prayer request to God. God would want you to be holy more than just getting the answer to your prayer.