Keys to a More Effective Prayer Life

Prayer- we hear a lot about it. Many people say they they pray. Different religions all pray. In the Christian life prayer is an humbling of ourselves before the awesome God. But, it is also, the most awesome God responding back to man that He has made! It is so incredible that we can communicate with such a holy God! And He desires to talk with us, not just to us.

Many want to know what God’s voice sounds like. Usually it is spontaneous thoughts. We can have these thoughts anywhere, anytime. The more we pay attention to and acknowledge these thoughts the more we will find ourselves hearing from God. This is not because He is speaking more, but, rather because we are more in tune to His voice. Just as radio waves are always there  but in order for us to hear them we must tune our radio to the right frequency, so it is with God– we have to tune in.

God is always speaking but we must tune in to hear. A key to hearing is being still. We have to learn to quite our soul (mind, emotions) in order to hear what God is saying. He has a lot more to say than we usually have time for.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” 

As we get still and quite, focusing on Him, He begins to touch us in our inmost being. At times he may not say anything but will just enjoy being with His child. The human mind can’t understand just being still with the LORD, but it is very effective spirit to Spirit communication.

God loves to spend time with us because He is a good Father. Another key to an effective prayer life is to have it settled in our mind that God is good. This is the seed of faith. 

Even when our prayers aren’t answered or the answers don’t look like we thought they would– God is still good. When we truly believe God is good when trials come we know it’s because He has a plan and purpose. Many times the trials are to perfect our character. We want to be happy but God wants us holy. 

Isaiah 30:18 tells us, “The LORD longs to be gracious to you.”

Jesus tell us in Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

However, He only gives what He knows we can handle because He is a good Father!

“We can have confidence in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us, and if we know He hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we’ve asked of Him.” 1 John 15:14

If we ask according to His will— not our will— because He’s a good Father.

Because He loves us so much He has given us His God breathed Word. His Word is filled with promises but some have conditions and we must line up with Him not him with us.

Jeremiah 33:3 one of my favorite verses says, “Call to Me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” 

We have to call to Him. A great way to call to Him is by praying His Word. This is a great key to effective prayer. Many times we pray our sins or troubles instead of going to His Word and praying the answer. The Psalmist said he hid God’s Word in his heart so he wouldn’t sin. That’s good advise for us too.

For example, we pray and pray and pray….. “O God, please help me to not gossip today. Help me not to think all those wrong thoughts. And Lord, I don’t want to lust today but I’m just human– I need you.”

In that we have confessed our need. But how about prying the answer from His Word? “God, I really need You to help me think on whatever is true, whatever is honorable and right and pure and lovely. I want to think about things that are excellent and praise worthy.”

The truth is we become and act on what we think on so if we are constantly thinking about our sin—guess what? That’s what we will do. If we focus on God’s Word we begin to go in that direction.

Many may not see words of prophecy or dreams as keys to an effective prayer life but I include them because they are invitations from God to pray. Write down words of prophecy and dreams, then ask God what it means. God wants us to seek Him and try to search out what He is saying to us. He loves to partner with us in that!

Two keys also lock effective prayer. The first is fear. Perfect love drives out fear. In the place we have fear we aren’t trusting God’s perfect love. Over 100 times’ “Fear not” or “Do not be afraid” Is found in the Bible. This is because God understands our tendency towards fear. However, for our prayers to be effective we must trust Him. Don’t let fear lock the door to your prayers.

The second key that will lock our prayers is offence that is not forgiven. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray He only went back and explained one part. He prayed in Matthew 6:12 to “forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” In verse 14 Jesus expounds on this by saying, “For if you forgive others when they sin against you your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Holding on to offence is not worth sacrificing intimacy with our Father. Make sure your door to effective prayer says open. 

The last key to an effective prayer life that I’m going to share today is the key of blessing. There is so much negative and cursing going on in the world. Sadly, much of it is by those who say they are Christian. Romans 12:14 tells us to “Bless and do not curse.” If we would do this we will see more effective prayer. Some examples of things to bless others, and even ourselves, with are: ability, courage, faith, salvation, deliverance, joy, love, hope, wisdom, peace, etc……

Let’s all have a more effective prayer life!!