Is There Evidence That God Answers Prayer?

There are three ways that the question Is there evidence that God answers prayer can be addressed. You can look for evidence from scripture, evidence from family and friends who are believers or look for scientific proof that God answers prayer. We will examine each of these in the following discussion.

Evidence from Scripture

There is ample evidence from scripture that God answers prayer. But before looking at the scriptures that support our supposition, we need to establish first of all that scripture is clear evidence without a doubt. 

This discussion does not go into a detailed discussion as to the validity of scripture but I would like to suggest that if you are willing to research, there is an abundance of evidence which proves that God exists and that He really does answer prayer. The Bible as a document has withstood both historical and archaeological scrutiny for over 2,000 years. Therefore, there is no reason to doubt the accounts recorded in its volumes. 

Here are some Bible verses that verify that God hears our prayers.

1. "We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.” John 9:31 ESV

2. "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:12 ESV

3. "And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him" 1 John 5:15 ESV

4. "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13 ESV

5. "I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!" Psalm 66:17-20 ESV

If you believe the validity of the scriptures then you have to believe these accounts of God answering prayers. I must added as well that these are but a minute sample of the abundance of examples in scripture of God answering prayer.

Evidence from Friends and Family who Believe

The easiest way of obtaining evidence of God answering prayer is to speak with family and friends who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The sheer volume testimonies of God answering prayer based on personal accounts rather than facts or research from Bible-believing Christians who faithfully walk with God, is not easily dismissed. If you cannot believe the Bible verses then believe your family and friends.

Evidence from Science

There are those people who need hard and fast scientific facts before they will believe that God answers prayer. However, prayer is not something that can be scientifically "proven." Science is based on unbiased observations and systematic experimentation. Prayer cannot be reduced observations and systematic experimentation, If that were the case there would be no need to seek out God in faith. Prayer is about building a relationship with a heavenly diety. Building any relationship requires trust in the Christian faith this trust is often termed "faith" (Hebrews 11:1, 6). This faith requires us to take God at his word and to start trusting him without outward evidence. 

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV)

Instead of looking for evidence for answered prayer in scientific methods, we need to exercise our own faith and test it for ourselves.  We need to take God at His Word and just begin to pray. (Hebrews 4:14–16; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).