After you’ve prayed, your task is to follow Divine Guidance. In most cases, your prayer will be answered with a set of instructions—given one at a time—that will lead you to the outcome you asked for.
And while God is certainly more than capable of guiding you without your help, you’ll find it a lot easier—and more enjoyable—if you actively participate in the process.
A great way to listen for God’s guidance is with meditation. After you’ve finished praying, stay right where you are, and quiet your mind. Don’t strain for the answer. Just keep your mind open, and pay attention to the thoughts that come into your mind.
Not all of the thoughts which come into your mind will be from God. Some may be from your own subconscious mind, especially when you’re new to the process.
The best thing I can tell you is that there will be a slight difference between thoughts which come from God and thoughts which do not. It’s not that you’ll hear angels singing, thunder cracking, or see a shaft of light beaming down from the skies. The difference will usually be small, like a feeling in your gut, or a tiny vibration which resonates at a different frequency.
With practice and experience, you’ll learn to distinguish which thoughts are worth paying attention to, and which ones should be ignored. The more you trust the process (ie.— have faith), the sooner you’ll notice the difference.
If you don’t get anything definite right away, don’t worry. Trust that God will answer your prayer in Divine Order—meaning that it will happen at the soonest possible opportunity, when the conditions are right.
As you go about your life, you may notice events that “push” or “pull” you in one way or another. This is another form of Divine Guidance, and being open to new directions will help God answer your prayers.