Effective Prayer Aligns Our Hearts with God's

"We are trying not so much to make God listen to us as to make ourselves listen to Him; we are trying not to persuade God to do what we want, but to find out what he wants us to do."  - William Barclay, Church of Scotland minister, and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow (1907-1978)

Many pray under the misconception that prayer changes things. This misunderstanding focuses the power on the act of praying itself, instead of the one who is being prayed to.

In reality, the power is in God, with prayer being the manner by which we invite him to act and come together in spirit. Placing our primary focus on prayer rather than the God who hears and reacts to us, can transform it into a superstitious ritual, at the expense of a true connection with Him.

Effective prayer is grounded in understanding that it's a conversation with God that aligns our hearts with His will. Let's examine what this looks like when we earnestly put it into practice.

1. Draw near to God in faith

• Trust in God's desire to act. The foundation of prayer is to believe that God hears you and that "he rewards those who earnestly seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
• Pray without doubting. "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." - Mark 11:24 (NIV)
• If you struggle with unbelief, be transparent with God and ask him to help you with it. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" - Mark 9:24 (NIV)

2. Yield control of your life to God's will and wisdom

• Seek God's glory, not your own desires. "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." - James 4:3 (NIV) The most effective prayers are those that are in line with God's perfect will.
• Submit to God's plan. Like Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, sometimes the most effective prayer is to submit to God's will, though it is difficult: "yet not my will, but yours, be done." - Luke 22:42 (NIV)

3. Prioritize a God-centered life and loving others well

• Confess your sins. Unconfessed sin is a hindrance to prayer (Psalm 66:18 - NIV). Confessing your sins and rejecting immoral behavior allows God to hear you, forgive your sin, and heal your life (2 Chronicles 7:14 - NIV).
• Humble yourself. "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" (James 4:6 - NIV). Humble prayer acknowledges your dependence on God.
• Forgive others. If you pray with unforgiveness in your heart, your heavenly Father will not forgive you (Mark 11:25–26 - NIV). Make amends with others before worshiping and praying (Matthew 5:23–24 - NIV).

Some essential elements of a more powerful prayer life also include: 

• Heartfelt commitment: This means that prayers should be sincere and from the heart, rather than being indifferent and weak. Effective prayer is often tied to its passion and intensity.
• Determination: Press on even when prayers aren't immediately answered. Jesus encouraged unceasing prayer, so keep asking, seeking, and knocking. Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
• Gratitude and Thankfulness: Come before God with an attitude of gratitude for all He has already done and what He is doing. Thankfulness helps with peace of mind - Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
• Faith and Expectation: Pray believing that God can and will answer. Submit your petition, believe you have received it, and it will be yours. - Mark 11:24 (NIV)
• Prayer from Scripture: Pray using the Bible. You can pray through a psalm, use Scripture to direct your requests, or ask God to help you better understand His Word.
• An intimate association: Regard prayer as a conversation, not a monologue. Pray with the same honesty and sincerity as you would have with a close friend or spouse. 

Some practical steps you can incorporate into your daily prayer life are: begin each day with prayer, pray for others, be honest with God, make a conscious effort to turn away from sin, end your day with prayer, keep a prayer journal to record your prayers and God's responses.

Effective prayer is based on a foundation of faith, righteousness, and in sync with God's will, necessitating sincerity, persistence, and humility. Developing a powerful prayer life involves an unceasing, relational conversation with God that is heartfelt, honest and indebted.

Scripture: Psalm 100:4; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1

Prayer: "LORD, fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may pray not just with my own words, but with a spiritual understanding of what you desire. Help me to be quiet and listen for your voice, knowing that our conversation involves both of us. Amen."

May God bless you always,

Liana