Paul compares the Christian life to a foot race, which is very familiar to the Church in Corinth. What he insists by this comparison is that:

CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A PASSAGE - FROM SIN TO HOLINESS, FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN. It is a daily movement. We need beware of stumbling blocks, of straying from the right course, of indulgence which may hinder, of violation of laws, of loitering, since the time is short.

CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A CONTEST WITH ENEMIES. The "race" does not fully illustrate it. We have opponents, many and resolute. We have a trinity against us as well as for us - the world, the flesh, and the devil. We have not only to "run," but to "fight."

SUCCESS MEETS WITH REWARD. Contrast the crowns of earth with the crown of heaven. Many do so much for a corruptible crown, and we so little for an incorruptible one. A garland of leaves and a day's popularity: paradise and life eternal.

MANY SPECTATORS WITNESS THE CONTEST. The eyes of the ungodly are upon us. Fellow Christians watch us closely. The angels behold us, and are "ministering spirits" to us. Perhaps victors of the past, perhaps those who have failed in race and fight, watch us. The King sees us - the Judge - he who holds "the crown of righteousness" for those who have "fought a good fight" and "finished the course." "Wherefore seeing," etc. (Hebrews 12:1, 2). When we think of the race and fight, we should ponder Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." - E. Hurndall

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

 The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for the sake of His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

~ Psalm 23

And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli.

Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce. And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.

Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.

Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

“I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

So he went and lay down.

Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!”

So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

“My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. “Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ ”

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:1-10

What a beautiful experience little Samuel had, hearing from the God Almighty! Have we heard the calling of our names by our Lord? One easy thing to check for is to see if we are following in His precepts, because the scripture says:

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. Proverbs 15:16

He said to them, "Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Godly - being after God's own heart leads to contentment, as we know our boundary lines have fallen for us in the pleasant places. 

We will be assured that God has blessed us according to His riches. We will not then run after treasures of this world but be grateful for the love, peace, joy, health and wealth we enjoy. 

Are we godly? Are we content? Then the scripture says we have gained much. 

Praise the Lord!

 The Lord upholds all who fall,

"A Roman proverb couples sunlight and salt together as the two things which keep the world alive and sweet. Homer calls it Divine; the substance clear to the gods; spoke of it as the emblem of righteousness, and our common phraseology, following the Greek and Latin writers, has chosen it as the symbol of wit and wisdom, of all that gives grace to speech, refinement to thought, pungency to writing, and individuality to character.

The idea, then, which the metaphor on the Savior's lips suggests is that His disciples (that is us) are the noble and indispensable element in the world; they sweeten, purify, and enrich its work, its thoughts, its social intercourse, its joys, its laws and literature. They save it from corruption, decomposition, and moral death. The great sea of life, like the sea which washes our shores, would become putrid without it."

 “My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done great things for me.

Holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear Him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who are proud

in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

but has exalted the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful,

as He promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Luke 1:46-55

Can we relate to these words? If so let us sing along... 

Have a blessed day folks!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

* Great in His nature - in power, intellect, heart.
* Great in His work. "Made the heavens."
* Great in His character.
* Great in His government.

* Joyous.
* Fresh. "A new song." The song of yesterday will not do for to-day, for there are fresh motives, fresh mercies, fresh needs.
* Constant. Worship as an occasional service is worthless, it is only worship as it becomes an all-pervading spirit, a permeating, dominating inspiration. "From day to day."
* Universal. "All the earth." "Ye kindreds of the people." This service is confined to no tribe or class of men, all sustain the same relation to the Supreme Existence, and out of the same relationship the same common obligations spring.
* Practical. An acknowledgment of God's claims & the proclamation of God's glory to the world.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

In fact Paul's statements here are attestations to Jesus's proclamation in John 15:5, when He said. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

True folks. Apart from Jesus we can do no good thing. And with Him we can do all good things. 

When we feel weak, His power is perfected in us and His grace is sufficient for us.

Isn't that an awesome privilege? If so, let us abide in Jesus who is the True Vine. 

Praise the Lord!

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers… 1 Peter 3:12

I. THE TWO SORTS OF PERSONS HERE SPOKEN OF.

(1) His knowledge of them, their condition and circumstances (Psalm 139:2, 3).
(2) His affection to them. The eye of human creatures is apt to be very much where the heart is (Psalm 146:8; Psalm 11:7).
(3) His providential care of them. He acts for their benefit — to guide, guard, and deliver.

(1) That prayer is the common practice of the righteous (Ephesians 6:18).
(2) That this their practice is pleasing to God.
(3) That it is a wise and reasonable practice, as it hitherto has been the practice of all good men.

(1) That He observes them and their actions; therefore, His face is against them, because He sees and knows them to be evil-doers.
(2) That their conduct is highly offensive to Him.
(3) That He will certainly treat them as enemies, if they do not repent and reform (Proverbs 28:9).

Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from deceitful speech.

He must turn from evil and do good;

he must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and His ears are inclined to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against

those who do evil.”

Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

1 Peter 3: 8-13

So, the answer to the title question "How to incline God's ears to our prayers?" is: 

Turn from evil. Do good. Seek peace. Pursue it. 

Simple is it not?

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;

I will recount all Your wonders.

I will be glad and rejoice in You;

I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 

For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:1-7

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 

For

 The voice of rejoicing and salvation

 1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

 1Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.