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Prayer That Works

The fourth key to healing is praying effective prayers. The very moment we pray, the tide of the battle turns. Prayer moves the hands that rule the world. It allows God to invade our situation and bring miracles. Prayer is our first and best resort, not our last resort after we’ve tried everything else. That is why the enemy tries everything he can to distract, discourage, and disrupt our prayers.

Not all prayers are equal. Some prayers are effective, and some are not. James says that the effective prayers of righteous men bring the most help. Notice it is effective prayers that avail much. The word “effective” means by implication that there is also ineffective prayer. Below are three requirements the Bible gives for praying effective prayers.

The first requirement for effective prayer is faith. Faith is the currency of Heaven. Praying without faith is like going shopping without money. James says we can’t expect to receive anything from God without faith. It is the prayer of faith that will save the sick. Not rote religious prayers. Not begging or complaining prayers. Not an abundance of words, religiosity, or flowery eloquence. Faith is what moves God. When we pray, we must believe God for what we are asking.

The second requirement for effective prayer is that it must be according to God’s will. How do we know we are praying according to His will? By praying His Word. His written Word spells out His will. His Word is His covenant with us. He is not bound by anything but His Word. The best thing you can do is find some Scriptures that pertain to your situation and pray His Word back to Him with faith.

The third requirement for effective prayer is persistence. Jesus told His disciples a parable about a persistent widow to highlight how they ought to pray at all times and not lose heart. So many people give up praying and believing right before their breakthrough. After their diagnosis, they start strong and believe God for their healing, but as time passes and their condition worsens, they start to give up. Jesus told this story to encourage us to pray without ceasing and never quit until we get our answer. It’s not enough to ask God a few times and give up. We must be like the persistent widow and keep praying as long as it takes.