Prayer is a communication with God based on a worthy relationship. We communicate by our words, thoughts or deeds. It is a two-way communication in that we speak to God and God speaks to us in response. Effective communication involves waiting for God’s response after prayer. Job 33: 33 says listen to me, (God speaking) be silent and I will teach you wisdom. We get regenerated when we listen to God after prayer. Isaiah 40:31 says, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Job 33: 14-18 say (paraphrased) For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men, and terrifies them with warning, that he may turn aside from his deed and act; he keeps back his soul from the Pit, his life from perishing by the sword. God speaks to us in response to our prayers in many ways. It is for us to be alert to his voice in our relationship with him.
Boundaries of prayer
Prayer has boundaries in that our requests must be within the boundaries of needs and not wants. We also ask within God’s will and not ours. Matthew 6:10 says thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. By this principle, Jesus said in Matthew 26; 42 my Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done. The will of God must define our desires in prayer.
Our prayers are often influenced from human perspective but whatever be the situation it must be rendered in the Spirit or led by the Spirit. Prayer is a spiritual exercise rather than how we perceive. Prayer is not effective without God’s Spirit because we connect with God’s Spirit in prayer. Prayer must come from either a righteous heart or a penitent or contrite heart. Psalms 51:17 says the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Character of our prayer
Ephesians 6: 18 says pray at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Philippians 4: 6 also says in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. Time for prayer is not a time of complaints or groaning or curses or accusations or anything that does not build the soul. Prayer time is a time for joyful communication with God in appreciation for every situation of ours. A meeting with Christ Jesus does not call for complaints but joy.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. We give thanks for two reasons, first is a commandment from God; and two, every situation we face is allowed by God for our good. Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good unto those who are called according to his purpose. We miss answers to our prayers because we are not guided by the rules of scripture and our refusal to accept God’s plan for our lives. With such an attitude, we offend God and must not expect anything good from Him in return.
Emptiness of prayer
God knows us and our needs even before we open our lips. So we must do what he wants us to do, then He will also do what He does best for us. Unfortunately, we have turned prayers into a show for public recognition and attraction. Jesus said in Matthew 6: 7-8, in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Effective prayer is therefore qualitative not quantitative. Prayer is empty if it is devoid of God’s Spirit or righteousness.
In prayer, we must be patient with God. Romans 12: 12 says rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Trials are inevitable because they are part of life so we must be patient in tribulation and trust God to do the needful for our good. God’s plan may not be pleasant to us but it does not change God’s good purpose for us. Jesus said in Luke 18: 1, we ought always to pray and not lose heart. God may not respond when we expect a response but He will surely seek our good at the appropriate time. Matthew 21: 22 says whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. We must have faith as one of the foundations of our prayers.
Prayer which God desires
Prayers made in iniquity are not heard. Psalms 66:18 says, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. God will not hear a double minded person. James 1: 7 says that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. God may also not hear those who are not his. James 4:8 says draw near to God and he will draw near to you. God hears those with contrite and broken hearts. Psalms 51:17 says the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
God hears from the lips of those with hearts which are free from deceit. Psalms 17: 1 says hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free from deceit. God hears from true worshippers who maintain faithfulness of heart. In 2 Kings 20: 1-6; Isaiah 38: 5-6 the Lord said of Hezekiah, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake. God hears a prayer that will keep us away from temptation. Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; and Luke 21:36 say watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation. God hears incessant prayers made on his word. Luke 22:40, 46 watch and pray without ceasing.
God hears those who desire to walk with him as did Paul and Silas, Acts 16: 25. God hears those who desire to invest in him, 2 Samuel 7: 27-29. God hears those who are led by His Holy Spirit in prayer, Romans 8: 26. The Lord hears intercessory prayers. James 5: 16 says therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. God hears the prayer of righteous people. James 5: 16 says the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effect. Prayers from an innocent heart will be heard. Jesus said in Luke 23: 34, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. We must forgive from our hearts, not lips only.
We must change our attitude in prayer and to be guided by scripture. We are full of noise making without substance in spirit. When we pray without a clean heart, we deceive ourselves. 1 Corinthians 13: 1 says if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. God hears those who show unconditional love. Are we ready to pray effectively? Faith and not fear must be the character of our prayers if we have a relationship with God through Christ Jesus.
Payer
Dear Lord Jesus, when we kneel to pray, please give us the spirit of penitence, truth, and patience to make our supplication with thanksgiving and love. Let your spirit give us utterance in prayer in faith and submit to your will. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
