We've been praying for her safe return, and now our 'prayers have been answered'. = We've been praying for her safe return, and now God has 'answered our prayers'. [=she has returned safely]
The house seemed like the 'answer to all my prayers'. [=the house had everything that I hoped for]
She told the children to say their 'prayers' before they went to sleep.
(..) why I had not come home. It wasn't that I'd defected or anything. - What did you do then? - I waited for a reply. 'I hung around for hours. I heard the Imsak call to prayer. 'So what's that? That's about . in the morning.' 'Then the message comes through. "'We read you. " (..)2011 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy