The Ultimate Purpose of Answered Prayer

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

What is the ultimate purpose of answered prayer? The ultimate purpose of answered prayer is that God might be glorified. Jesus said in the book of John, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, THAT THE FATHER MIGHT BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON." (John 14:13). When we pray we should seek first and foremost for God to be glorified. Doesn’t God get glory when He answers our prayers?  The answer is yes. When God answers our prayers we tend to rejoice in Him and we tend to glorify Him and sing praises to Him and we tend to give Him all the glory and credit.

When we go to God in prayer we should be concerned about His glory.  We should pray for His glory.  In Psalm 115:1-2 we read "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.  Why should the Gentiles say, 'So where is their God?'" When I go to God in prayer I tell the Lord to answer for His glory – for His glory is at stake.  I tell the Lord why should the unbelievers point at me and say "So where is his God?"  When I go to God in prayer, I tell the Lord: "Please Lord show them that You are with me and that You are God.  Let me not be ashamed before unbelievers." This is how Elijah prayed when he was on Mount Carmel.  We read in 1 Kings 18 the story of how Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal and how he pleaded with God to show His glory and to show that He is God. David prayed that way in Psalm 25:1-3 and told the Lord "Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed." Also Moses in Exodus 32 pleaded with the Lord not to destroy the nation of Israel for His name's sake.

So may God be glorified in our lives and when He answers our prayers.