Bible Study
What Is Prayer?
Prayer is conversation, communication and fellowship with God borne out of love. Prayer is made with a consciousness of what God has already done in the sacrifice of His son Jesus.
It is important we understand that the effectiveness or efficacy of prayer doesn’t have much to do with it’s length, how often we pray, or the intensity of our shout but rather it is our faith in God and His word that matters (Hebrews 11:6). Importantly effective prayers must be in line with God’s will, plan and purpose for us.
Talking about length of Prayer, Jesus was a bit disappointed that Peter, and the other 2 disciples couldn’t pray with Him for at least an hour (Matthew 26:40).
“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:40-41 NKJV
While this doesn’t in anyway mean that God doesn’t have ears for shorter prayers, it might guide minimum time spent in effective prayer. And ofcourse we remember Jesus’ story of the widow who wearied a king with repeated request for same thing until the king granted her request. (Luke 18:5).
“...yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
Luke 18:5 NKJV
So praying about one thing over and over may not guarantee it will receive the expected response, but Jesus wants us to keep the Father in remembrance. Indeed, if we pray in faith, our continuous thanksgiving on that request serves as a reminder to God as well as an expression of our faith. Praying without ceasing is an admonition from scripture we don’t want to forget in a hurry- 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.“
I Thessalonians 5:16-20 NKJV
Below are five guides for effective prayer.
Prayer Guide #1
- Pray and ask in faith.
Praying in faith means our expectations are based on God’s Word and we trust that we will have them. It involves making request to God and speaking to circumstances in order to make them conform to our desires without doubts in our heart (Mark11: 22-23). A prayer of faith is backed up by actions (works) and also followed with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving here is an affirmation that we believe we’ve received answers to our prayers.
Prayer Guide #2
- Ask according to the will of God.
I John 5:14-15 gives us the exclusive privilege that God hears us always when we pray according to His will (His written word). It also means He answers us if we pray according to His stipulated pattern. For example James 5:16b talks about an effectual fervent (heartfelt, specific in purpose, filled with zeal (energy) and fervency, continuous) prayer. Isaiah 43:26 says bring forth your strong reasons. Some prayers require a petition, an agreement, a command or an intercession etc.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
Prayer Guide #3
- Pray in the name of Jesus. In John 16:23-24 Jesus said ‘whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you’. We can alter circumstances, cast out demons and demand for something due us by the authority we have in the name of Jesus.
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:23-24 NKJV
Prayer Guide #4
- Pray prophetic prayers.
This refers to the prayer in which you speak the will (mind) and purpose of God into being by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. An example is Jonah’s prayer to God when he was in the belly of the fish. (Jonah 2:1-4). As the Bible says; you shall decree a thing and it shall be established.
Prayer Guide #5
- Offer praise and thanksgiving.
We activate the power of God at work in us when we praise God and offer thanksgiving to Him. For example, King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:14-19, Paul and Silas in Acts 16:22-26.
“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
We have a Father who is willing and able to meet all our requests. This is our confidence.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
I John 5:14 NKJV
Indeed, prayer is a life saving skill every Christian should learn. Effective prayers are those prayed in the Spirit and according to the Word, offered with thanksgiving and in the name of Jesus.
If you are looking at having all your prayers answered, then Why Hasn’t God Answered Me? is an article that might help you.
God bless.
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