How to pray effectively

The Bible makes it clear that you should pray. It says, when you pray. James 5:13 says, “Is any among you afflicted?” Some are afflicted with sickness, joblessness, poverty, delay, complete stagnation, failure, rejection, etc. It says “…let him pray…” It didn’t say let him cry. It didn’t say let him run to friends, it says let him pray! Prayer is the key to terminating affliction. Prayer is what you need to survive every demonic onslaught against you. Prayer is the key to securing freedom. Prayer is the key for obtaining victory over your adversaries. Prayer is the lifeline of the church, prayer is the lifeline of the believer. It is through prayer you obtain divine strategy for winning. James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Prayer is the key for obtaining the power of God for profitable living. Pray if you want to win. 

12 Ways To Make Your Prayer Effective

The Bible makes it clear that there is a type of prayer that is effective. James 5:16b says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” NIRV says, “The prayer of a godly person is powerful. It makes things happen.” The NLT says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” Believe me, earnest prayer produces amazing results. If it’s not, it means you have not met the conditions.  

Let me share with you twelve ways to make your prayer work.

1. Pray without distractions. Get into thy closet…Matthew 6:6

2. Pray for something specific. What things soever you desire when you pray.. Things… specific. Mark 11:24. Not Father bless me, help me…but something specific.

3. Pray without sin in your heart. Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” The state of your heart determines your success in prayer. Sin is a blocker. Fight sin until you get rid of it. Or, it will get rid of you.

4. Pray according to the promises of God. God will not give you faith to pursue what He has not given you. God wants to give you a husband but did He tell you it’s bro James? 1John 5:14-15

5. Pray believing. It’s your understanding of the integrity of God that enables you to trust Him above everything else. Pray with assurance that God will answer your prayer. Believe you received when you prayed. Mark 11:24.

6. Pray in tongues. Praying in tongues is the way to resolve mysteries and breakdown barriers. Romans 8:26.

7. Pray with fasting. There is a dimension of freedom and breakthrough you cannot enjoy without adding fasting to your prayer. Matthew 17:21, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

8. Pray with gratitude. Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” If you truly believe the promise of God, you will believe you have received when you pray and thank God profusely while you are waiting for manifestation.

9. Pray from Kingdom motive and not selfish motive. James 4:3, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” God blesses you for you, for others and for Himself. God knows when you are asking for yourself only. It’s easy to know. How did you apportion previous blessings? Did you pay your tithe, did you show gratitude to God? Did you help anyone? How will the breakthrough you’re asking for impact the kingdom of God? Tell God what the Kingdom of God will benefit from the answer to your prayer. Solomon asked for wisdom to govern Israel well. Hannah asked for a son to give to God. 

10. Pray with passion. James 5:16b says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Mindless prayer is worthless prayer. Don’t bother asking if you are not serious. 

11. Pray with patience. Hebrews 6:12, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

12. Pray long. Now the Bible says pray without ceasing. The breakthrough you want cannot be delivered by a mere 30 minutes of prayer.    

When we talk about prayer, Jesus is our perfect example. He prayed all night Luke 6:12. He rose up early to pray. He went further to pray. In the garden of Gethsemane when He was facing the challenge of imminent death on the cross, we know that He prayed for a minimum of three hours. He taught persistence in prayer. Luke 18. He commanded so much power and authority. He demonstrated mastery over creation. 

Look, it was not thirty minutes of prayer that delivered Peter from being killed by Herod. The church prayed all night for his freedom! Acts 12:5, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” God mobilized an angel in response to the prayer of the church to release Peter from prison. They did not stop praying until Peter was released. 

What is your Peter that the enemy is keeping in jail? What is that precious thing that the enemy is trying to kill? What is that precious thing that the enemy is trying to steal from you? Pray, pray and pray!  

Prayer 

1. Ask God for one specific thing you want Him to do for you. Ask for something that will impact the Kingdom and humanity positively.

2. Pray for revival in the church.

3. Pray in tongues. 

From today, you will not pray in vain. I bind and cast out every demon keeping anything that belongs to you, in the Name of Jesus. You will no longer labour in vain. Every plan of God in your life will be fulfilled, in Jesus Name. You will flourish as God intended, in Jesus Name!

Bishop Dr Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l.