POWER PRAYER (PART 3)
The Bible says that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16b). I would like to share three keys to having a powerful and effective prayer life. Three keys to Powerful and effective prayer.
Pray according to the will of God
Our prayers become powerful and effective when we pray according to the will of God. God desires to fulfil His will on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). When we pray according to God's will, our prayers will be answered. Sometimes, our prayers aren’t answered because it is not in line with God's plan and purpose for our lives, family, business and ministry. Jesus prayed before his arrest to the Father to be spared from death on the cross. But Jesus also added to the prayer that He wanted God's will to be done (Luke 22:42).
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)
Because Jesus was obedient to the will of God, He went to the cross, died for the sins of mankind and rose to life on the third day. Jesus had the final victory over sin and death because He obeyed God's will. God is a loving Father who desires to answer our prayers. However, God only answers our prayers when it is beneficial to us, others and the kingdom of God. Don't be discouraged when your prayers are not answered because God always has a better plan prepared in advance. We need to realign our prayers according to the desires of God. We will know God's desires as we fellowship with God each day.
God will speak to us about the things on His heart so that we can pray according to His will.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
We need to remind ourselves with the words of Jesus in Mark 9:23. Jesus said "everything is possible for him who believes".
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
No matter how big the mountains are or the obstacles we face, God can help us overcome them when we pray in faith. Nothing is too difficult for God. God can do all things in His power. We need to put our trust in God to act on our behalf. The God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites is the same God who performs miracles today. We must let God be God of our lives. Don't put limitations on God.
There is no such thing as “too hard” for God. The God who created the universe is able to answer our prayers.
Pray with persistence
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Sometimes, our prayers get answered instantly. Other times though, our prayers may take years to fulfil. I remembered praying that one day I would graduate from university with a degree. I waited for 10 years before this prayer was answered from God. I did not give up praying or believing that God would help me graduate from university. Abraham received a promise from God that he will be father of many nations when he was 75 years old. He had a child with Sarah when he was 100 years old. Abraham had to persist in prayer even when both he and his wife were beyond their childbearing years.
4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.
Delay in answering a prayer does not mean that God will not answer our prayer. We need to persist in prayer so we can receive a great reward from God when He answers.
God is faithful even if it seems a long time in the offering. God knows the best time to answer our prayers so keep praying until we experience a breakthrough.
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