Prayer - Pray Effectively

I've blogged about praying without hindrance, discussing the things that can make your prayers ineffective.  So, what are some keys to effective prayer?

Ask – It goes without saying that if you want a prayer answered, you must first offer up a prayer.  God can certainly meet all of our needs without us asking Him, but the Bible clearly states that He wants us to ask.  God knows that when we ask we will be more likely to give Him the glory of the results.

“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:2 NLT)

Direct Your Prayer to God – How often do our prayers contain little or no thought of God himself?  We often fill our minds full to the brim of thoughts about our own needs instead of filling them with thoughts of God himself.  In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus encouraged us to respectfully consider to whom we are praying.  We should take our eyes off of our needs, our situations, and our distresses and place them on Jesus.  We should align our will with His will.

“6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6-7 NLT)

Pray in Jesus’ Name – Jesus is our intermediary to our Heavenly Father.

“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.” (John 14:13 NLT)

Forgiveness – Ask for forgiveness for your sins.  Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers.  

“If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18 NLT)

Forgive others if you are holding a grudge against anyone.  

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25 NLT)

Being forgiven and being forgiving will make your prayer more effective.  God expects us to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

  

Pray Passionately – Our prayers should have intensity.  We shouldn't pray just to be praying (i.e. just going through the motions), but have heartfelt feeling behind our prayers.  Offer true thanks.  Give true praise.  Pray out loud, pray with your body and pray with concentration.  Pray earnestly!

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16 NLT)

Pray Desperately - Pray with agony when your situation is distressful.  Many times our prayers have little power because we put little or no heart into them.  We can’t expect God to put much heart into a prayer that was offered up with little heart.  Our prayers must mean something to us if they are to mean anything to God.  Desperation puts us in a place where we have to turn to God in prayer.  Scripture is full of examples of desperate prayers.  In desperation, God sees how serious we are about what we are asking.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

Be Humble – Do not make demands to God.  Bring your requests to him with humility and with a humble heart.

Align Your Will With His - Adjust your prayer according to the will of God.  There are many things that we desire, but God knows what the best possible result is for us at each and every moment. 

“14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” (1 John 5:14-15 NLT)

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7 NLT)

Pray His Promises – We can claim the promises God has made to us.  When our requests are things God has already promised to grant us, we increase our praying with confidence.

Have Faith – Faith, enduring, waiting.  Effective prayer doesn’t give up when results are not immediately seen.  It continues to pray and believe for an answer no matter how long it takes.  Remember, God works in His time, not ours.  He knows the best answer and the best time to provide it.  Keep on praying!

“Never stop praying.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT)

"One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” (Luke 18:1 NLT)

Let Go and Let God – Your prayer’s power is increased when you let go and turn over whatever you are praying about to God.  If you have any doubt about God’s ability to answer your prayer, turn it all over to Him and ask Him for the faith to believe in His Will and abilities.

Be Thankful – Thank God not only for the answers you do receive, but also for those you don’t or the unexpected answers.  Send Him thanks for all He has blessed you with, all He has done for you, all He is doing for you, and all He is planning to do for you.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

Pray as a Body – Prayer and praise have even greater power when entered into with other believers.  There is power in united prayer!

““I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.”  (Matthew 18:19 NLT)

Jesus means that if two or more people share the same burden, are sure of God’s will, and are in agreement with the Spirit of God and one another as they pray, they will see dynamic results.

Pray Alone – Don’t just pray in church or in group settings alone.  Get by yourself and get alone with God to devote yourself to prayer.  Have one on one conversations with God as well as participating in group prayers.  Scripture teaches us to not only pray together, but to pray alone as well.

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6 NLT)

Pray Effectively - Pray effectively and see results done God's way an in His timing.  Don't give up and never stop praying!!