Question: what can I do to get my prayers answered? It seems I never get what I need/want!
Great question! not easy to answer in a simple blog post, but let’s try! first, we will discuss a few factors that will give tremendous power to your prayer, so you’ll have much better chance for your requests to be answered.
Obviously, there’s no sure-fire way to get your prayers answered, but we will discuss a few elements that help in that regard. This list is also not exhaustive but it’s a great start for anyone taking his Divine Service seriously.
One thing you can be sure of, it will pay its price and bring you much closer to God!
Going to the Mikvah every day
According to many poskim (halachic authorities), the Mikvah is not a Mitzvah, but it achieves what no other Mitzvah can achieve. It can bring Kedusha (holiness), Taharah (purity), Chokhmah (Wisdom), Da’at (Mindfulness) and many other gifts.
Going to the Mikvah purifies one’s thoughts and gives energy to his neshama (soul). This is not to mention the awesome effect of purifying a man who had a seminal emission (Ba’al Keri). Our Rabbis teach that a man who’s a Ba’al Keri has a very difficult time praying and having his requests granted.
Sure, it’s permitted to pray while one is in that state of Tumah (spiritual fragmentation) of Keri. However, one is absolutely, 100% forbidden of praying with Kavanot until he immerses in a Mikvah.
This cannot be stressed enough, as all the mental energy a person puts in the Kavanot goes to the Sitra Achra. If you use any Siddur with Kavanot, be sure to pray with them only after going to the Mikvah if you ever find yourself in that state of Keri.
Moreover, the Mikvah unblocks many channels of shefa (abundance) that were previously blocked, so it’s a good practice to immerse every day or at least whenever one is a Ba’al Keri...