How to Pray Effectively

How to Pray?

Many people wish to have an effective prayer. They want God to hear their prayers and to respond. But before we understand how to have an effective prayer, we have to learn what it really is. Let’s take a look at the Word of God. We read in James 4:2-3:

You are jealous and covet and your desires go unfulfilled; you become murderers. You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain, so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. you do ask and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is to spend it in sensual pleasures.

So, this is the perfect example for an ineffective prayer. God doesn’t answer these prayers which are against His will or are filled with evil, selfish and wrong motives.

So, how to have an effective prayer? It is very important to remember, that before we pray, we should check our motives. Why do I pray? What do I want from God? Why do I want that from Him? What results do I expect to happen from my prayer? The most important thing for us is to know that we pray because God wants us to pray. His will for us is to have a deep relationship with Him. Prayer is vital for our spiritual life. That’s the way we get in touch with the Almighty God. We pray because of God’s love – He loves us, and we love Him. So, the first reason for our prayers must be to have a relationship with our Father: to seek His face before we seek His hands. That’s the way we allow Him to cleanse our hearts, as well as correct our motives. We have to humble ourselves before the Lord. Remember that God stands against the proud, but favors the humble. (James 4:6)

God answers prayers according to His will. Nobody could expect an answered prayer against His will. How to know what God’s will is and what is not? The key to this question is in the Bible again. Every promise of God that is written in the Bible is His will.

What is more, everything that He had not promised in His Word is not His will. That’s why you couldn’t expect God would bless you in gambling, for example. You couldn’t believe that God will make someone fall in love with you only because you love that person. This is just a manipulation and it is against His will.

But if you pray for your mother to be saved – well, you can be absolutely sure that your prayer will be fulfilled! Why? Because of John 3:16!

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.

What about your prayer is for holiness? Well, it is correct again! God’s will is that our lives are dedicated to him according to 1. Thessalonians 4:3.

Are you sick? God wants to heal you! If any of you are suffering, they should pray, says James 5:13. You have to be sure that if you pray for a healing; it is God’s will to restore your life.

Every key to a fruitful and powerful prayer is in the word of God. If you want your prayers to be effective – just open the Bible, pick up a scripture and pray upon it. God will answer. Be encouraged and don’t stop praying!

If you have trouble concentrating during prayer, use a prayer bracelet, that’s what they are for.

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• Jesus Prayer – Prayer of the Heart
• A modern day Judas, How to deal with betrayal
• Are you in good spiritual shape?