Obedience Affects the Outcome of Prayer

In the Apostle John's first general letter to the church in his day, he bore his eyewitness testimony of the resurrected Christ. Then he counseled the saints in the proper Christian life. Among his injunctions are these words:

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
--1John 3:22

How I live—my obedience and faithfulness—affect the outcome of my prayers. It's just that simple. If I want answers, I must live for them and qualify for them. I do not earn them, for no one is really worthy. Answers to prayer, like the Atonement itself, are gifts of grace and mercy. But like I must qualify for the grace of the Atonement, I must qualify for the gift of answers to prayer. God is good, but He is not stupid; generous, but not foolish. He gives to those who will recognize and appreciate His gifts. The proof of my desire is in the asking, but the proof of my appreciation is in the living and keeping the commandments.

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!