* Ask yourself if you’re asking God to override someone’s free will and force your desires on that person. Rather than expecting God to mechanically control someone (which isn’t a loving thing to do), expect Him to just influence that person while still respecting his or her free will. Pray into the situation creatively and one step at a time.

* Ask yourself if Satan is opposing your prayers. Know that Satan will sometimes try to block your prayers from being answered by contesting them. Ask God to help you persevere in prayer and stand in courage against evil so you can break through spiritual opposition. Learn about spiritual warfare and use Scripture as your weapon in the battle. Ask God to reveal how you should best pray into the situation. Try fasting. Spend more time worshipping Jesus than thinking about Satan.

* Ask yourself if you have the faith to believe God will answer your prayers. Realize that some prayers aren’t answered simply because you just don’t believe that they will be. Ask God for the faith to believe. Seek to grow in faith by worshipping, fasting, and memorizing God’s promises from the Bible.

* Ask yourself if you want an answer enough to keep praying. Don’t give up. Pray about the situation regularly and ask God to help you persevere until He is ready to give you His answer about it.