•1:40 PM
What are some keys to effective prayer?
Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Christian Life, Prayer
Foremost in prayer we must recognize the sovereign power of God.
He hears prayer and forgives sin.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Confession of sin is more than just admitting the sin.
In confessing sin to God, we agree with Him about the nature and effects of sin. He knows what we have done, so in confession we acknowledge that He as Lord has the power to forgive us and cleanse us of unrighteousness.
We should not fear confessing sin to God, because His matchless love for us is demonstrated by the cross of Christ.
In recognizing with God the nature and effect of sin, we realize the inherent need to make restitution to others for our sin.
The Philippian jailer made restitution for the harsh treatment of Paul and Silas: He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway (Acts 16:33).
As He prepared to face the cross, Jesus prayed, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).
Effective prayer must be marked by this attitude, not my will, but thine, be done.
We must pray according to God's will.
We may not always know fully what the will of God is, but we will know that His will is always consistent with the scriptures.
The better we know His written word, the better we will be able to keep our prayers and our lives in tune with His will.
James lamented that some chose not to pray according to God's will: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3).
We must pray according to His will, and do all that we can to let His will be done.
Even though the disciples were religious, and had prayed all of their lives, they knew that Jesus was different, so one said, Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1).
In response, Jesus gave a model prayer.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil (Luke 11:2-4).
He immediately then told a parable about persistence as a man begged for help from a friend. The friend helped, not because of friendship, but because of his importunity, or persistence in asking (Luke 11:8).
Christ then pointed out that God will give to His children as any good father will, but He expects importunity, or persistence in prayer.
Fervency is another characteristic of effective prayer.
God's people have always prayed with forceful sincerity.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months (James 5:17).
We read of Christ; And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44).
The formalism of many prayers needs to be replaced with the fervency of real belief in God and in His promise to hear and respond to our prayers.
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