10-Aug-2024 – How to pray effectively?

Published by Bro. Sunil Binkam on August 10, 2024August 10, 2024

The Effectual Fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much – James 5:16

This chapter from James addresses prayer as an integral part of a believer’s life in a very practical way. Often, we are inclined to seek out a pastor or a well-known man of God in the church to pray for us—whether for healing, a breakthrough, or other needs. This is good and is part of the ministry established by the Lord Jesus Christ within the church.

However, this doesn’t mean that we should neglect our own prayers. Consider a student preparing for an exam. The teacher imparts knowledge, but it’s up to the student to study the material. During class, the teacher explains the subject in detail, but it is during personal study that the student truly understands and absorbs the content through repetition and reflection.

When it comes to prayer, which is often seen as a means to bring about change, we need to understand the situation at hand. We must ask questions like: Why is this important? How should we ask God according to His Word? What is God’s will concerning this matter? Just as the teacher helps the student grasp the subject, pastors and spiritual leaders guide us in understanding our situation and discerning God’s will—whether we should pray, fast, or both.

But just as the student must continue studying, we must continue praying. The word “fervent” means to pray with great intensity and zeal. When you are in need, your attitude in asking for help changes. Similarly, the way a student studies during regular times differs from how they study during exams.

The first key to effective personal prayer is having an intense zeal and passion for the subject of your prayer. For instance, common prayer requests include those for marriage, jobs, studies, finances, and health issues. If we are truly passionate about seeking breakthroughs in these areas, we will dedicate time to prayer and meditation, communicating with God, and working in tandem with the church’s spiritual leaders.

However, without zeal or passion, we may delegate the responsibility to others and forget that we, too, have a role to play in seeking God’s help.

The second key aspect highlighted in this verse is righteousness. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. But how can we be righteous?

“And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness. – Genesis 15:6

For Abraham, there was no Law, no teachers, or preachers. He was guided by God alone. There was no one to consult about whether what he heard from God was correct or how he should pursue it—whether he should fast or how he should pray. He believed God and acted accordingly, and this was counted as righteousness.

“And it shall be our righteousness if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us. – Deuteronomy 6:25

This was true for the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land. Whatever God commanded them, observing these in their lives counted as righteousness. This, too, comes down to belief. Without believing that God wants us to do these things, we cannot do them.

“Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. – Romans 3:22

Righteousness is not something we earn; it is given by God to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, without any partiality. For example, you may not have known or believed this truth until now. But if you believe that all your needs will be met according to the will of God in Jesus Christ, you will be counted as righteous.

So, the second crucial point for an effective and assured prayer is to have faith and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, without doubting the subject of your prayer. Such prayer will undoubtedly bring results.

Today, we have learned that prayer is not just for the men of God in the church but for every believer. We have also learned two important aspects of effective prayer:

1. We must have zeal and intense passion for the issue we are praying about.
2. We must have faith and belief in God through the Lord Jesus Christ regarding the answers to our prayers.

May God help us to become prayer warriors in the coming days!

Prayer
Dear loving Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You for teaching us today about the important aspects of praying effectively and praying with results. Help us to align our prayer lives according to Your Word and the guidance of Your Spirit. I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!