The First Answer
The first of three answers to prayer God can give is "YES!" Solomon, as a young and inexperienced King of Israel, asked the Eternal for wisdom. This trait, which he lacked, was essential in order for him to effectively and righteously rule over the Israelites.
"Now grant me (Solomon) wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people. For who can judge this Your people that is so great?"
And God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, nor honor, nor the life of your enemies, nor yet have asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may judge My people, over whom I have made you king,
Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you; neither shall any after you have the like." (2Chronicles 1:10 - 12, HBFV, see also 1Kings 3).
Not only did he receive enough supernatural wisdom to make him the wisest human in history (before or since), he received unmatched riches and honor (1Kings 3, see also 2Chronicles 1:10 - 12)! This is one of the most awesome answers a human has ever received.
The early New Testament church, after Peter was arrested by Herod, offered up fervent petitions on his behalf. The answer they received from God was nothing short of miraculous. He personally sent one of his angels to free Peter of his chains and escort him out of the prison in which he was held (Acts 12)!
The Bible contains many other examples of people receiving a positive, and fairly quick, answer to their prayer. They include Samson (Judges 16:26 - 30), Gideon (Judges 6:36 - 40), King Hezekiah (2Kings 20:1 - 6), Elijah (1Kings 18:36 - 38), Daniel (Daniel 9:3 - 23), Paul (Acts 9:9 - 12) and numerous others. God even promises positive answers to people's needs, during the Millennium, before they have a chance to ask him!
And it shall come to pass, before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24).
The Second Response
One of the three answers to prayer we usually do not want to hear is "No!" During his second missionary journey, Paul wanted to travel to both the western and northern part of Asia Minor but was forbidden to do so (Acts 16:6 - 7). The Apostle Paul also prayed for a painful affliction to leave him and was denied.
I besought the Lord three times for this, that it might depart from me; But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you; for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, most gladly will I boast in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2Corinthians 12:8 - 9).
God will deny requests that seek to indulge selfish and sinful desires.
You lust, and have not; you kill, and are jealous, and are not able to obtain; you fight and quarrel, but still you do not have, because you do not ask. Then you ask, and you do not receive, because you ask with evil motives, that you may consume it on your own lusts. (James 4:2 - 3).
The Eternal will also not answer those who are willingly pursuing a sinful and unrepentant life (Proverbs 1:24 - 28, Daniel 9:13 - 14, 1Peter 3:12, etc.). There are also times when he may seem to deny us but what he wants is for us to be persistent and faithful in our prayer (Luke 11:5 - 10, 18:1 - 7).
Even if our requests are innocent and righteous, the Lord may not grant them because they do not fit his overall plans and timetable.
True Christians should be willing to admit that they lack the wisdom and perspective to know what is ultimately good for them or others. If we feel the Eternal is slamming the door on our requests, we need to go to him in prayer and ask him to reveal his will for us. We need to adopt the same attitude as Jesus, who made requests to the Father like we do, but always deferred to his perfect will (Matthew 26:39, 42).
The Hardest Answer
Perhaps the most difficult of the three answers to deal with is "wait," which is another way of saying "yes, but not right now." Jeremiah the prophet had to wait ten days before God revealed which way he and a large group of people should travel (Jeremiah 42:1 - 7).
The Eternal has promised those who cry out to him that he will avenge how they have been treated but at a later time (Luke 18:1 - 8). Having to wait and exercise patience is not easy, especially in a world that craves instant gratification. Yet the character to wait patiently and endure is something our Father wants in us (Romans 5:1 - 5). Believers can be confident, in faith, that they will receive one of three answers to their prayers.
And this is the confidence that we have toward Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we may ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him. (1John 5:15, see also Psalm 10:17, 65:2).