Successful Prayer

In this article we want to look at some steps to being successful in prayer. We all want results from our prayers, but many a time we don't seem to be heard. Last time we talked about hindrances. Now on a positive, we want to look some steps that will help us. Now there is no magic formula for successful prayer, but I believe the Bible gives us some helpful guidelines.

First of all is important for us to abide in Christ.

John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."

What does it mean to remain in Christ. It means living according to God's plan. It means being in the center of God's will. We do this by remaining in contact with Him through prayer, fellowship and His Word.
Let see how the Psalmist says this in Psalms 37:4 -"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

As a Father, which of your children would you more joyfully help and give to, would it be the one who delights you or the one who grieves. Of course, it will be the on who delights in you. It doesn't mean that the Father loves one greater than the other, but loves to be with and bless the one who shows his love towards him. SEE Psalms 145:18-20

The second step is ask according to God's will.

I John 5:14,15 -"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

How do we know God's will? We know it as we look into His Word and listen to His Holy Spirit. Also, we need to use our common sense. If use ask God for the necessities of life, you can be assured that He will give them to you, anything beyond that is up to the Father's discretion, He may or may not as He sees fit. This doesn't mean you can't believe God for great things. God loves to give us good and big gifts because He loves to lavish His love on us.

Thirdly, our motives are important in successful prayer.

James 4:3 - "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Does this mean our pleasure is not important to God. No, it doesn't mean this, but our good and the good of others is more important to God. What ask for our own pleasure is often not good for us and may not be good for those around us. If we ask for the good of God and the good of others our prayer success rate will rise. SEE 2 Kings 4:32-35

Fourthly, we are to pray in the Spirit.

Jude 1:20 - "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit."

When we prayin the Spirit, we are being led by the Spirit in our prayer. When we do this, we pray God's will and purposes, and we can't fail. You have heard of high praises. This is high prayers. SEE Ephesians 6:17-19

Fifthly we are to pray earnestly and/or intensely.

James 5:17- "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years"

Acts 12:5 - "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him."
I Thessalonians 3:10 - "Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith."

When we pray earneslty, it shows the Father how much we really want what we are asking. Yes, God knows our heart, but He likes us to express what is in our hearts. I bleieve that our earnestness moves the heart and hand of God.

Sixthly we are not only to earnestly seek the answer or gift, but we are to earnestly seek God our Father.

Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

It is interesting here, he says God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The Bible says, seek you first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) Even in this world, one is more ready to help the person who has a relationship with, and one who is not just after the gift.

I trust these six steps help you in your prayer life. The Bible teaches that He loves to bless His children and loves to hear us pray. Yet, we must follow the principles laid out in God's Word to be more successful in our prayer lives.