Introduction/recap: In the last episode, we considered some miscellaneous points about effective prayer – God is committed to our growth than our comfort.
In this episode we will discuss more about secrets of effective prayer.
- Abiding in Christ. “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) The whole secret of prayer is found in these words of our Lord. Here is prayer that has unbounded power: “Ask WHAT YE WILL, and it shall be done unto you.”
When our prayers fail it is because they are indeed our prayers. We have conceived the desire and framed the petition of ourselves, instead of looking to Christ to pray through us.
- “….. and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) HIS WORD ABIDING IN US. But there is another condition stated in this verse, though it is really involved in the first: “And My words abide in you.”
If we are to obtain from God all that we ask from Him, Christ’s words must abide or continue in us. We must study His words, fairly devour His words (read large chunks), let them sink into our thought and into our heart, keep them in our memory, obey them constantly in our life, let them shape and mold our daily life and our every act.
PRAYING WITH THANKSGIVING
In approaching God to ask for new blessings, we should never forget to return thanks for blessings already granted. We should be just as definite in returning thanks as we are in prayer.
Jesus started every prayer with thanksgiving.
It is the nature of carnal man to forget to return to give thanks. In the account of the 10 Lepers, Jesus said “Were not the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17, R.V.). This is the reason our Thanksgiving is usually shorter compared to request. How about having prayer sessions to give Thanks and make no request. Doubtless one reason why so many of our prayers lack power is because we have neglected to return thanks for blessings already received. Start by thanking God for what he already did, Thank God in anticipation of the answers. Thank God when you receive the answers.
Thanksgiving is one of the inevitable results of being filled with the Holy Spirit and one who does not learn “in everything to give thanks” cannot continue to pray in the Spirit. If we would learn to pray with power we would do well to let these two words sink deep into our hearts: “WITH THANKSGIVING.”
Conclusion
When we truly abide in Christ, pray according to God’s will, and approach God will a heart of gratitude, our prayers will obtain that which we seek from God.
