Praying God’s Word

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5: 16)

There is no substitute for fervent prayer. Rather than worry and wring your hands about a challenging situation in your life, you can pray about it. Sometimes prayer is viewed as a last resort, something you do after everything else has failed. That’s not the correct Bible perspective.

Prayer has to be a top priority in your life and should precede every decision and action you make. In fact, prayer should become an integral part of a your lifestyle. That’s why the Bible states we should pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Prayer is to the believer like water is to a fish. Jesus taught His disciples to pray and personally demonstrated that an effective prayer life was essential in His ministry. In Luke 6:12 the Bible states that Jesus went out to a mountain and prayed all night. In the Garden of Gethsemane just prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed that the Father’s will, not His own will, would be done. In the book of Hebrews, the Bible states that Jesus, even today, makes intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25)

James 6:17 states that Elijah, a man like us, prayed so effectively that his prayers impacted the weather, first causing rain to cease and then causing rain to come. In the Old Testament, Elijah prayed that a widow’s dead child would come to life and the child lived . The Bible states “And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah: and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” (1 Kings 17:22)

From the examples of both Jesus and Elijah, we can see that effective prayer can mean the difference between life and death, between doing the will of God or doing your own will. Viewed from that perspective, it is important to know how to pray. There are several keys to a having an effective prayer life. Pray God’s Word which is His Will. Then you have confidence that He will bring His will to pass in your situation. Do not complain and do not pray the problem (1 John 5:14,15). Pray in faith, believing that you have received the answer to your prayer. (Mark 11: 24) Pray with a clean heart (free of sin, unforgiveness and selfishness). Pray fervently; pray earnestly; pray with expectancy. Rest in the promise that God’s ears are open: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers.” (1 Peter 3:12).

Pray the Word:
Father God in Heaven, Your Word says that Your ears are open to my prayers for I am righteous in Your sight. I thank You that Your perfect will is done in earth as it is in heaven according to our prayers. Help me to become a mighty prayer warrior. Amen

Scriptures:
James 5:16-18
1 John 5:14,15
Matthew 26:36-46