From Gene R. Cook (and the book) “A Year of Powerful Prayer”:
. . . . How can you gain access to the grace that we’re talking about, so the heavens can help you? How do you fulfill conditions for grace? The scriptures teach of some simple prerequisites.
- First, have faith. As Paul wrote: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace.” (Romans 5:1-2 If we truly have faith, casting our doubt and fears, we can receive grace, which can give us power unto the answering of our prayers.
- Second, repent and do good works. As we read in Helaman: “Therefore, blessed are they who will repent . . . . And may God grant, in his great fullness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.” (Helaman 12:23-24.)
A repentant heart and good works are the very conditions required to have grace given unto us. When someone pleads fervently in prayer for a blessing, the answer may be conditioned on repentance form our own personal sins more than any other factor. (see Doctrine & Covenants 7-8; Mosiah 11:23-24.)
- Third, be humble. James said: “He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)
Humility seems to rest at the core of who we are in our hearts. If you’ll humble yourselves before God—and if your desire is in harmony with the will of the Lord—the grace will come, the power will come and intervene for you, and your prayer will be answered.
~Gene R. Cook, “A Year of Powerful Prayer” (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2013) p. 96-97
