Effective prayer
When prayer fades out, power fades out. We are as spiritual as we are prayerful; no more, no less. E. Stanley Jones1
“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16b NASB 1995)
When we pray, we tend to focus on the results of our prayers. But we should first thank God for the privilege of being able to come to the God who created the universe and pray to Him. Talking about effective prayer, let us remember that Jesus had to suffer and die on the cross so that we can approach God’s throne in prayer (Heb. 10:19–25).
Biblical examples of effective prayer
Yes, the Bible does tell us how to pray, but more so it shows us the type of person who prays effectively. The “righteous person” in James 5:16 is in a right relationship with God. God pays attention to the righteous (1 Pet. 3:12a; Ps. 34:15). “The prayer of the upright is His delight” (Prov. 15:8b).
There are many examples in both the Old and New Testaments of effective prayer. Daniel was a righteous man who prayed daily (Dan. 6:10–27). He was delivered from lions. Moses was approved by God, and in response, God sent meat, manna (Ex. 16), and water (Ex. 17:1–7).
Hannah prayed (1 Sam. 1:11), and God gave her Samuel (v. 20). Elijah was a man like us, and God answered his prayers for rain (James 5:17–18). God answers the prayers of His children (Prov. 15:29).
The stipulation for effective prayer
We can pray confidently if we pray according to His will (1 John 5:14–15). To know God’s will means to know God Himself. We get to know God by spending time in His Word and in prayer. If we don’t know what to pray for, Paul tells us that we can ask the indwelling Holy Spirit to pray for us, according to His will (Rom. 8:27).
How are we to pray?
We are to pray continually (1 Thess. 5:17), to always be in an attitude of prayer. We are to pray persistently and not give up (Luke 18:1). We are to pray in faith (James 1:6; Mark 11:22–23). We are to pray in Jesus’s name (John 14:13–14). We are to pray with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6) with a heart that is right with God. And we are to pray realizing that God already knows our needs (Matt. 6:8).
Barriers to prayer
But there are some things that will keep us from praying and keep God from answering. One is unconfessed sin (Isa. 59:2; Ps. 66:18). The good thing, though, is that the remedy is simply to confess (1 John 1:9).
Other barriers are selfish desires and wrong motives (James 4:3) as well as ignoring God’s advice (Prov. 1:25). If we strengthen our relationship with God, we can be sure that He hears us and will answer according to His will.
The same God
When we study and obey God’s Word, when we seek to please Him, we find God to be the same as He was in biblical times. The God who made the sun stand still at Aijalon in response to Joshua’s prayer (Josh. 10:12–13) is still the same God.
He invites us to come before His throne of grace with confidence to receive grace and mercy in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).
1. “E. Stanley Jones Quotes,” QuotesLyfe, https://www.quoteslyfe.com/quote/When-prayer-fades-out-power-fades-out-537597 (accessed May 16, 2023).