Inclined to Listen

The Apostle Peter gave encouraging counsel to the faithful members of the primitive church and a stern warning to those who refused to repent:

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
--1 Peter 3:12

My obedience and faithfulness obviously affect my relationship with God. Not that He loves me less when I am disobedient, but why should He speak to me when I am not inclined to listen? 

His face is against evildoers because their faces are against Him. They turn their backs and so He turns His back. The moment, however, that I turn toward the Lord, He instantly turns back toward me. The love of God is an amazing gift!

Nurture Mortal Relationships to Nurture the Relationship with God

The apostle Peter wrote an open letter to the converts of Christ outside of the nation of Israel, many of whom had been gentiles. He offered counsel and teaching to these newly baptized members of Christ's church. Among his admonitions is this gem about the marriage relationship and its effect on prayer:

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
--1 Peter 3:7

The quality and efficacy of my prayers are affected by my mortal relationships, and especially the relationship with my wife. If I am at odds with others, angry, resentful, or begrudging, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell with me, and without the aid of the Spirit, my prayers fall flat. My best prayers are inspired, and when they lack inspiration, they become vain repetition. I must therefore carefully nurture my relationships with those around me, and especially my family, if I can have any hope of nurturing a relationship with God.

Effectual Fervent Prayer

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
--James 5:16

Another interpretation of this saying is, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." In other words, prayer works. God hears all prayers, but the prayers of a righteous person who keeps the commandments and is in tune with the Holy Spirit get more attention because they are already in harmony with the Lord's will. They are easy for God to answer.

I do not claim to be a righteous person, or that my prayers are always fervent or effective, but I try to pray regularly for others, and I like to think that others are praying for me. I need the prayers of others to bolster my own pathetic prayers. Most importantly, I rely on the prayers of Jesus on my behalf:

"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." (John 17:9-10)

"Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:3-5)

The only truly righteous person to have lived on the earth is Jesus, and surely His prayers are effectually fervent. Though I fail in many ways every day, I have hope because Jesus is praying for me.

Prayer of Faith

In his general letter to the primitive church, the apostle James admonished the saints to exercise "the prayer of faith" in praying for ill family members and friends. 

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
--James 5:15

The prayer of faith is prayer motivated by faith. We pray with faith that God hears, and then we act on our prayer and on our faith as instruments of the Lord.  In other words, the prayer of faith is a prayer followed by works of faith as we are directed by the Spirit.