If you are looking for secrets of effective prayer life as a Christian, we’ve put together the 4 key elements of prayer in this article.
Prayer is for every child of God born again, a channel through which he is in permanent communion with his God. Others would speak of breathing. Jesus tells us, pray without ceasing; this is the command we received from the Master. But what is praying effectively? Because far from being a magic formula, the prayer obeys a spiritual logic which when it is not respected, becomes only a simple religious duty, a simple exercise of words.
What is the most effective prayer and What makes our prayer effective?
1. Faith: Have faith and don’t doubt
According to Hebrews 11:1 (KJV), Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The Bible is clear about the importance of faith in prayer, it goes on to say in Hebrews 11:6 (KJV): “And without faith, it is impossible to please him. For he who approaches God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him.
Faith is the activator of our prayers, faith allows us to believe that God is able to act and that He will do it, and faith allows our soul to cling to the heavenly truths contained in the Word of God. Faith plays a fundamental role in prayer, without it prayer is neither listened to nor granted. The Lord Jesus says it Himself in Matthew 5: 7 (KJV): in praying do not multiply vain words like the pagans who imagine that by dint of words they will be answered.
Indeed, God searches our hearts and He knows when we turn to Him and pray with faith or not.
2. Hope: be expectant
This second point is linked to the first, to pray without hoping to receive in return would be anti-biblical since it is written: “Ask and it will be given to you”. We must believe that God is good enough, great enough, and powerful enough to answer us and do even more than we can ask or imagine, as Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) says: And to him, that can do, by the power that acts within us, infinitely beyond anything we ask or think.
Yes God is quite capable of surprising us, He is not limited by our limitations, our imperfections, He is God. The Lord Jesus says so in John 11:40 (KJV) “Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God? God is always ready to act on our behalf, but He expects to find a willing soul, someone who believes in His almightiness because in the end He is always given to us according to our faith, according to what we expect deep down.
3. Be in agreement with God
To be in agreement with God and his brothers
Let’s go back to that episode of the withered fig tree in Mark 11. After speaking of faith in verse 24, the Lord goes on to the notion of forgiveness. Mark 11:25-26 (KJV ) And when you are at the beginning praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your father who is in heaven also forgives your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Most of the time, our prayers have no effect because we are not in agreement with God or with our brothers. Resentment, bitterness, and anger are so many toxic wastes that block our communion with God, that is why it is important to evacuate resentment through forgiveness. To this end, the Apostle Paul recalls in 1 Timothy 2:8 (KJV): “I, therefore, want men to pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without anger or evil thoughts”
This implies that having a good disposition of heart makes a prayer more effective. A good exercise that could help us take stock of our inner life on a daily basis is an examination of conscience. This examination will let us know if we still have bitterness or other deposits in our hearts. For let us remember: if we do not forgive, our father will not forgive us either and our prayers may not be answered.
4. Pray according to the will of God
We said it in the introduction, that prayer is not a magic formula, and God is not the genie of the lamp which is at our disposal to satisfy our every whim. In fact, as the Lord Jesus taught us in our Father’s standard prayer, our prayers should accord with God’s will. The will of God which is perfect for us.
Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
Yes God’s will for us is what we should desire the most because God only has plans of happiness and not of unhappiness for us. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) declares to this effect: “For I know the plans that I have formed for you, says the Lord, plans of peace and not of misfortune, in order to give you a future and Hope. It is true that God‘s will not always coincide with our desires, but we are reassured that He has the best for us and that He never lies.
The enemy might try to make us believe otherwise, but let’s not doubt our God. Indeed in Numbers 23:19 (KJV), the Bible declares: God is not a man to lie, nor the son of man to repent. What He said, won’t He do it? What He has declared will He not carry it out?
READ MORE:
10 hindrances to prayer and how to overcome them
Opening prayer for a meeting and Bible study
What are the obstacles to an effective prayer life?
Conclusion:
These few points mentioned above are not exhaustive, you will agree with me. But they are the essence of a prayer that pleases the Father and produces results for our good and that of our loved ones in the Lord.