Prayer is so simple even a child can do it. Yet it is so important that it unlocks the very doors of heaven and moves God to work on our behalf. Prayer is the greatest privilege we can have. It is simply talking directly to the Creator of the universe.
God invites us to pray. “Call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” (Jer. 33:3). “If My people…will pray…I will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chron. 7:14). “Pray without ceasing” (I Thes. 5:17).
If the Son of God got on His knees and prayed can we do less?
Most prayers are simply requests for God to do something for us, but prayer is much more than this. Prayer should begin with praise for who He is and thanksgiving for what He has already done for us. It should include a searching of our hearts (Ps. 139:23) and a confession of any known sins. We are invited to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Then there is the deeper level of intercession. God has made us priests (I Peter 2:5,9), that is, someone who stands before God on behalf of others.
Scripture gives us keys to successful praying:
- Pray according to His will. Not what we want, but what He knows best (Matt. 6:10).
- Pray in Jesus’ name. His name is our authority to approach God (John 15:16). Be specific. Be open and honest before Him.
- Be earnest. Continue until the answer comes.
- Have faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6).
When there is no answer, we should search our heart for problems.
- Is there unconfessed sin (Ps. 66:18)?
- Are our motives proper (James 4:3)?
- It may not be God’s will to answer at this time.
John 15:7, 8 gives us the conditions for answered prayer: “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, so shall you be My disciples.” The conditions are to abide in Him, and abide in His Word. The purpose is that God be glorified and we bear much fruit.