Many people pray, virtually everyone on the face of the earth has prayer point(s). And people pray differently. Before we proceed, let’s define prayer.
What is prayer?
Prayer is simply communication between man and God.
Prayer is talking to God and expecting him to reply or answer.
Many times people pray without getting answers to their prayers and begin to wonder, is God wicked? Did I ask for too much etc
Some others come to a conclusion that God has decided to punish them for a particular sin and so on and so forth.
But today we’ll be looking at how to pray effectively.
In what way can we table our request to God in order to get the answers to our prayers
How can I pray effectively?
1. Go to God with your expectations and keep expecting: God knows our needs but do you know that there are times he won’t meet your needs till you ask?
John 16:24 KJV
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
So ensure you take your needs to God in prayer because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
2. Pray the will of God: many times we ask for what is not in line with the will of God, and with this, God’s reply will be no, this is not my plans for you, I have better plans for you. Imagine asking for a car and God has a private jet in mind for you, if he says no at the moment it is not because he hates you but because he has better plans for you.
In Jeremiah 29:11 God is telling us there that his plans for us are good not evil so all we need to do is to know his will and ask for it. Remember Jesus Christ when he was to die on the cross, he prayed that the cup may pass over him, but eventually he said let thy will be done. Matthew 26:39
Now imagine the cup actually passed over him, then the whole world would have perished in sin because Jesus Christ came to save humanity from their sins and reconcile us back to God. So the will of God is not to evil or wickedness towards us.
3. Ask in faith: whatever you ask, believe.
Matthew 21:22 KJV
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
If you ask for something without believing that he is capable of doing it, you’re simply limiting God…
Believe in your heart that whatsoever you ask he is able to provide it
4. Pray in the holy ghost:
Romans 8:26 KJV
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Many times we have prayed amiss because we do not ask the will of the father James 4:3
But if we pray in the holy ghost, the holy spirit will be the one making the prayer on our behalf and with that it is guaranteed that the prayer won’t be against the will of God. So always engage the holy spirit.
5. Give thanks: thanksgiving is an application for more. When you give thanks for what you received yesterday, you will get more.
Philippians 4:6 KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Never neglect the place of Thanksgiving in your prayers. Give thanks to God for the things he has done, the ones he is doing and the ones he will do. This gives room for more blessings.
I believe this has enlightened you about how to pray effectively.