THE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT PRAYER

Psalm 55:16-17, Luke 7:7-8 Matthew 11:1, Mark 11: 24, James 5:16

The world can be changed through prayer. When we pray, the power, the revelation and the strength of God is ours. We should set prayer as a priority in our life. This is something only you can do. A person who does not have an understanding of the importance of prayer and does not have a successful prayer life is always weak in their spiritual life.

Since prayer is so essential to the spiritual life, it is imperative that we devote a lot of time and effort to make sure we know how to pray effectively. Although prayer can come instinctively, to pray effectively must be learned. Mankind has prayed from the beginning, but it was not until God Himself came to live with us on this planet that we begin to learn the meaning of prayer and how to pray effectively.

When you pray, do you have confidence that God will answer? Are your prayers specific or in general? Is your prayer life as a casual response to your needs and desires, or is it food for your spiritual life?

There is a reason why many are not experiencing results in their spiritual lives and this lack of results in large has to do with prayer. There is an alarming reality within the people of God and that there are a large number of believers who have neglected this fundamental practice and some have distorted the effectiveness and purpose of it.

Prayer is not an incessant repetition of words and phrases, as if it were a formula, nor is it to negotiate with God for Him to work in our favor. We must be clear that neither our eloquent or long prayers nor the emotional outbursts of screaming and crying move God in our favor.

Prayer is talking to God with our heart, without frills, not out of obligation or routine, it is to talk to God in faith, fully believing in our hearts that He is there to attend to our supplications. It goes beyond simply opening your mouth and saying words, is more than just a simple communication (John 14:14).

Prayer should give us tranquility and peace, as we believe by faith that what we have asked has been granted. You cannot pray with fear and doubt in your hearts, we cannot expect to hear from God unless we are totally convinced of what we have asked in prayer. The word of God in the book of James warns us that whoever asks in this manner (doubtful) cannot expect anything from God (James 1:6-7).

Many of us truthfully have at one time asked ourselves, how then are we to pray? The disciples asked Jesus the same question and the Lord gave the example of “The Lord’s prayer", which is the basis and prayer guide how effective prayer is made. Based on the principles taught in this prayer we can develop our communication with the Lord with deeper and more intimate prayers.

Prayer is not only asking and receiving, but also involves thanksgiving, worship, and praise to God. There are two responsibilities in prayer, God's responsibility and our responsibility. Prayer is both human and divine.

One of the most simplest and deepest passages regarding prayer in the Bible is found in Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "

Note the intensity of progression of the Lord in this passage: "ask ... seek ... knock." Clearly, Jesus had in mind that we should be actively engaged in the process of prayer. Prayer is not a spectator sport!

There is a vital element in prayer that many overlook; constancy in prayer. Maybe we see that nothing happens, but a delay between what we ask for and when we receive it does not mean that God is not answering our prayers. God wants to answer our prayers. He did not give us prayer with the purpose to frustrate us or with the intent of leaving our prayers unanswered.

PRAYER IS A LABORIOUS TASK

Prayer is laborious because the enemy of our souls recognize the spiritual power that can be achieved through prayer and opposes us to pray as we should pray (Eph. 6:12-18, Col. 4:12, Heb. 5:7, Luke 22:44; Dan. 10:8-14).

There will be times that we will have a great struggle when we pray (Dan. 10:8-14) we may not feel the presence of the Lord, but we must not lose heart, it is oppression of the enemy and it is better not to get up from prayer until you feel the presence and victory from the Lord.

IT IS A SIN TO BE NEGLIGENT IN PRAYER (I Sam. 12:23, I Thess. 5:17)

Without prayer, sooner or later the child of God will fall into sin. Prayer is the Christian's spiritual resource (Eph. 6:13-18).

In many cases the lack of prayer occurs due to the lack of knowledge of the Bible and of the promises of the Word of God for us through the privilege of going before His presence (Heb. 10:19-22).

If there is sin in our lives, there is no such freedom to approach Him in prayer and being in that sinful condition, God will not hear our prayers (I Jn. 3:19-24, Psalms 66:18).

THAT WHICH WILL HELP US SO OUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED

The rule for receiving the answer to our prayers is in Matthew 7:7-11. Biblical truths well guarantee response: 1) Ask, 2) Seek 3) Knock, 4) Persistence.

Don’t be discouraged be patient (Luke 18:1-7); don’t let doubt, fear, disbelief and discouragement overcome you as you expect the divine answer. Rebuke, resists all opposition from the enemy with suggestions that you will not receive an answer.

Request insistently, be tenacious in your purposes, be stubborn, continue in your prayers, refuse the thought "give an inch" demand persistently (Luke 11:5-8, Heb. 10:19-23-36).

Believe, have faith and trust that God will answer your prayers. Come to God in prayer with the right attitude and clean motives (Heb. 11:6, Matt. 6:5, 7:7-11).

Praying (asking) according to His will. The Lord has promised us definite promises (II Cor. 1:20). But still we must ask that it be according to His will because we do not know if God wants to give us what we are asking, because of His holy purposes in our lives. And even if He wants to grant us what we are asking, we do not know if it is the proper time for Him to grant us what we are asking. This is why we should ask that it be done according to His will (I John 5:14-15, II Cor. 12:8-9, Luke 22:41-42).

POSITION OR POSTURE OF THE BODY IN PRAYER

The Bible does not give specific instructions on body position during prayer. According to Scripture people prayed in different body positions (Matt. 26:39, I Kings 8:54; Mark 11:25, Acts 2:2, I Tim. 2:8). We suggest that in your private prayers you should kneel when possible, because even this demonstrates the humiliation we must have before the presence of God.

WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO PRAY?

You should select a time that is most convenient for you to pray according to your personal circumstances. The Bible does not specify a specific time to pray. When possible it is best and recommended to pray in the morning, before starting the day's activities. Your mind and heart are fresh and clean in the morning.

IMPEDIMENT IN PRAYER

A. Having an unforgiving spirit: Mat. 6:23-24, Mark 11:25

B. Living in sin: Proverbs 15:8, 29; Isa. 1:15; Lam. 3:42-43

C. A spirit of pride: Luke 18:9-14

D. Doubt. You can never fully understand what it is to pray, or how, but do not let that prevent you from praying.

E. Slothfulness. Resist the temptation to put aside prayer because you are tired or bored.

F. Do not listen to the Word of God: Proverbs 28:9

G. Hypocrisy in our lives: Matthew 6:5-6; 23:14

H. Vane repeating: Matthew 6:7

I. Failure to confess our faults to one another.

J. Lack of mutual respect and subjection in marriage: I Peter 3:1-7

K. Trusting feelings. Do not wait to have an emotional siege before praying. Pray even when you do not feel it.

L. Disbelief. When one invokes the name of the Lord, it is because he believes. Praying to a god in whom you do not believe in is a waste of time.

SYSTEMATIC PRAYER

Success lies in starting. However, there are some guidelines to follow. If you want to have the ability to maintain an active prayer life, two things are essential: Prayer must be systematic and comprehensive.

A. Find a time to pray: An organized time free of interruptions, would be very advantageous for prayer.

B. Find a location: You should find a place in your home for prayer where you can be alone with God.

C. Find a goal: Your prayers should not only be systematic with respect to time and place, but also they must be specific. Praying with a purpose is one of the keys to receiving answers to your prayers (Isaiah 41:21).

Learning to pray specifically produces a difference in your feelings about prayer and it will bring results when you pray. Vague prayers usually never achieve results, but specific requests, expressed clearly invite the power of God.

PARTS OF AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT PRAYER

Equally important is to be complete in prayer. Praying completely covers all aspects of prayer.  That is, understands what you should do. Once you know what to do, praying well never seem difficult.

PRAISE

1. It is good to begin our prayer with praise, using the Psalms (Psalms 145-150).

2. Give the Lord all the honor and glory for all things. Worship, glorify, and praise His name wholeheartedly.

3. It is good to pray, expressing the Word of God stored in our mind.

CONFESSION (I John 1:6-10, 2:1-2)

When you pray, do not forget this. Confess your sins and spiritual weaknesses to the Lord. Do not use general terms in your confession to the Lord, but be specified in this. Un-confessed sin is the greatest hindrance to prayer.

GIVING THANKS (Philippians 4:6)

There is so much to thank God for. For the small and large things that He gives us in this life. Thank Him for the breath of life, the privilege of prayer, salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit, health, and spiritual blessings and much more (I Thess. 5:18).

INTERCESSION: Intercession is God's love flowing through us.

1. It will be a help to you and to others that you intercede through prayer (I Tim. 2:1-3)

2. Intercede for whom or why?

a. Your Family, for spiritual and material needs. For all the brethren of the church, special requests submitted. For the brothers who are weak spiritually, for people who are not saved, relatives and friends, and for the sick.

b. For your pastor and other ministers.

c. Pray for yourself. To be faithful in all, so you can devote your life every day.

MEDITATION (Psalm 1:1-2; 77:12)

In meditation, reflect on sacred themes of the Word of God and His goodness. When meditating, you will experience a greater understanding of the wonderful and profound of the divine promises. This understanding will magnify your prayer and your life.

LISTENING (I Kings 19:11-12)

Prayer is not only talking to God. We must also listen. Listening is different from meditation. When we listen, we received direct orders from God.

Praise and Worship

It is essential to finish our prayer in this manner, thanking Him for answering the requests that we have made. As our first thoughts to begin the day should be on Him, in the same manner it should also be at the end of the day.

We should cultivate the habit of prayer in our Christian life, as a habit is not formed in a day, it takes time. It takes discipline to cultivate well.