Keys to Effective Prayer

1. Answered prayer is strongly tied to our daily relationship with and obedience to the Lord

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  (John 15:7)

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1 John 3:22-23)

God loves to answer prayer because we are living in a way that is pleasing to Him.  By staying close to Him and waiting upon Him to hear Him and do His will, we will be in a great place to pray as He wants us to and be in line with His desires.

2. God hears us and answers us when we pray according to His will

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)

We know His will from the Word of God and from that close and personal relationship we have with Him.

the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers …I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. (John 10:2-5, 14)

God may answer us “GO, SLOW, GROW, or NO”

GO – Yes, it is time

SLOW – Your own the right track but keep praying and waiting on My perfect timing

GROW – I have so much to give you and use you for but you aren’t ready yet, you need to keep learning and growing so I can get you that place where I can entrust you with this.

NO – I have something better for you

3. Persevere in prayer because there is resistance to God’s will

 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” (Daniel 10:12-14)

‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” (Luke 18:4-5)

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7)

Sometimes the delay in answered prayer is because there is a battle going on in the heavenlies and your prayers are the weapon that will bring the breakthrough.  But keep pressing in until you see the answer from Him.

4. Always pray with faith

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  (Mark 11:24)

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” (Mark 11:23)

Faith is not a force.  Faith is only as good as the source you are connecting it to.  When you have faith in God to do great things you are believing in the One who is almighty and all loving.