God intentionally waits to answer our prayers until we’re in a position to accept His guidance. Put another way, He wants us to be willing and able to do as He says.
Think about it. Jesus made Himself available to His disciples, but they had to choose to follow Him and obey His commands. Some who heard the Savior speak went away unchanged.
It is the same for us today. So present yourself to the Lord knowing that He loves and accepts you completely and do as He says. Surrender. And rest assured that, as He works on your heart, changes will come. Some of them painful. Some of them delightful. But all of them purposeful.