The Secret of effective Prayer (1))
- PRAY UNTO GOD:Acts 12:5 “Prayer was made without ceasing of the church UNTO GOD for him.” “Unto God.” The prayer that has power is the prayer that is offered unto God.
Is not all prayer unto God? In order that a prayer should be really unto God, there must be a definite and conscious approach to God when we pray; we must have a definite and vivid realization that God is bending over us and listening as we pray. In very much of our prayer there is really but little thought of God. Our mind is taken up with the thought of what we need, and is not occupied with the thought of the mighty and loving Father of whom we are seeking it. We cannot afford to please people. Read Luk 18:10-18 for context.
- Praying unto God requires we walk in His character(You cannot walk like the devil mo-sat then pray to God on Sunday. Psalms 66:18 ‘‘If I had regarded iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not hear’’.
- PRAY WITHOUT CEASING:The second secret of effective praying is found in the same verse, in the words “WITHOUT CEASING.” In Acts 12:5 “Prayer was made without ceasing unto God.
Gal 6:9 admonishes – ‘‘Let us not abate our courage in doing what is right; for in due time we shall reap a reward, if we do not faint’’. (Weymouth).
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas A. Edison.
Luke 18:1 ‘‘Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up’’.
- EFFECTIVE PRAYER IS EARNEST (SERIOUS DETERMINATION):“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16 KJV).
In Luke 22:41-46, Jesus Christ exemplifies praying heartfelt prayers, and tarrying in the place of prayer. Study for more details.
We read in Heb. 5:7 that “in the days of His flesh” Christ “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.”
Romans 15:30, Paul beseeches the saints in Rome to STRIVE together with him in their prayers. “Strive” means primarily to contend as in athletic games or in a fight. In other words, the prayer that prevails with God is the prayer into which we put our whole soul, stretching out toward God in intense and agonizing desire. Much of our modern prayer has no power in it because there is no heart in it.
If your Prayer doesn’t move you, chances are it won’t move God. – Bill Johnson
