Effective Prayer

God always answers our prayers. He may say "YES" (we love it, don't we?), "WAIT" (sometimes it's hard to wait... to be patient, isn't it?) or "NO" (it's so difficult to accept  "NO" as an answer!).

•James 5:16b (NIV) “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

-What is an “effective  prayer”? How can we pray effectively?

-THE EFFECTIVE PRAYER IS THE PRAYER THAT MEETS GOD’S WILL. // IT  MATCHES GOD’S PURPOSE. // IT IS ACCORDING TO WHAT GOD WANTS.

•1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

-Ephesians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

* So, to pray effectively, we must pray according to the will of God, not ours. At His time, He will grant us what we asked of Him.

-The Bible gives us some examples of prayers which didn't get a "YES" because God’s will  in that situation was different:

-II Samuel 12.13-23 = David prayed seven days for the child, but it was against God’s will and the child died.

-I Kings 19.1-9 = Elijah prayed that he might die, but God had other plans for his life.

-Luke 22.42 = Jesus prayed in deep agony to be set free from that “cup”, but He never gave up the Father’s will.

-II Corinthians 12.7-9 – Paul prayed three times to be free from a “thorn in his flesh” that was tormenting him, but God had a purpose in that (to keep

 him from becoming conceited, proud, because of the great revelations he had) and just said to him: "My grace is sufficient for you...".

Jesus prayed: “… yet not my will, but yours be done.”  (Luke 22.42) - If you want your prayer to be EFFECTIVE, ….

-… believe, pray in faith, never doubt; repent and confess your sins; forgive everyone who sinned against you; pray in the name of Jesus; and be sure to

ADJUST YOUR PRAYER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD!

The Lord bless you!

Pr. Silvana

(Preach on 10/01/11)