Principles of Effective Prayer
Approaching the throne of grace correctly
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
The simple truth about prayer is that it is a form of intimacy between a Father and a child, the Creator and the created, the Worshipped and the worshipper. This is why Paul says in Romans 8:15-16 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. This means that God is delighted to hear from us, the bible says so in Proverbs 15:8 “The prayer of the upright is His delight.” God wants us to pray, and He is willing to answer said prayer. Jesus Himself declared “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
Here are some principles of effective prayer courtesy of Christian author Derek Prince:
Reverent Submission: prayer is a direct, personal approach to God who is holy, righteous and all powerful, our prayers must reflect this reality. Jesus Himself concluded a prayer with “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). God accepts total submission and nothing less
In the Name of Jesus: Christ is the way the truth and the life. No one goes to God except through Jesus and we are not exempted. If we do not acknowledge that Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf gives us access, we cannot obtain said access
Thanksgiving and Praise: We cannot expect God to do more for us when we have not thanked Him for what He has already done. In Luke 17:17-18, Jesus healed ten lepers and only one came back to give thanks. He asked “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” God is displeased when we are ungrateful
Boldly and Without Condemnation: Effective prayer demands that we approach God boldly, without a sense of condemnation. To carry around guilt in our heart is to disregard the price that Christ paid. Paul says in Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The Psalmist says in 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
For God’s Glory: God searches the hearts and minds of His children and understands our motives. If our requests are not for His glory, then our requests have no standing. Make sure your requests are genuinely tied to God’s glory. John 14:13 says, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
Clear Conscience: Part of the Lord’s prayer reads “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The commandments are also summed as Lord God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22). If our relationships are not right, our prayers are weakened
Lean on the Holy Spirit: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit is our advocate and intercessor, invoke Him and lean on Him
According to Scripture: “It is written: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). The word of God is where we draw our power and sustenance