How To Have A Powerful Prayer Life
Too many of us feel like our prayers fall on deaf ears and are void of power.
That used to be my feelings about my prayer life. I believed God wanted to talk to everyone except me. I didn't feel worthy or spiritual enough. If I needed prayer, I would go to someone else and hope that their faith was strong enough for both of us. I figured my messes were mine to clean up and the creator of the universe had more important things to deal with than me.
GOD’S TRUTH SHINES THROUGH
God lovingly took the time to show me three amazing truths. He didn’t tell me these things then move on. To be honest, I didn’t even realize what was happening until I slowed down long enough to look back. I noticed my attitude was changing but I hadn’t put two-and-two together yet. As God continued to encourage me, he showed me:
1. God doesn’t play favorites. He has given every one of us equal ability to talk with him at any time about anything. He won’t shut me down to listen to the prayers of someone else. I don't have to be in the five-fold ministry to be worthy for God to hear and answer my prayers. God has always seen us as equals.
"For there is no respect of persons with God."
(Romans 2:11)“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:28)
2. There isn't a time that is inconvenient to God. He will never say "Hang on a minute, I'm in the middle of something bigger over here. Get back to me later why doncha." Not going to happen. Ever. God hears and makes time for every prayer uttered, no matter who, when, or how it is said.
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.”
(Psalm 34:15)
3. God’s loving and listening to us has nothing to do with the level of our spirituality. God isn't going to ignore us because we aren't spiritual enough. He loves me just as I am and loves me right where I am. Yes, He wants me to grow but the only thing that hinders my prayers is me. (Romans 3:21-30)
BIG AND LITTLE ARE ALL THE SAME TO GOD
Even as maturing Christians we might find ourselves falling into the trap of thinking something is too big for God and is beyond his help. Or maybe we go the other way and think our issue is not big enough to bother him.
Such lies of the enemy!!
God wants us to talk with him about everything. We know that he never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:3-4) and because he adores us so much he is always with us listening and watching over us (Proverbs 15:3, 1 Peter 3:12).
Have you ever watched your child struggle with something you could have helped them with but they wouldn't let you? That thing they were struggling with was huge in their life but you knew it was really a minor thing you could deal with quickly and easily. You would stand by and watch and wait for them to ask for help but they kept insisting "I can do it by myself!"
We tend to be that way with God.
He wants to help us and bless us but he won't force himself on us. Big issues or little issues are all the same to God.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM AN EXAMPLE OF PRAYER
When looking to the Bible for examples of prayer, most Christians I've talked to seem to head for the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and go no further. That is an amazing prayer, but to me, I am drawn to the book of Daniel. God used this one small book to show me so many amazing things! It is full of examples of prayer asked and answered, fasting, clean eating, friendships, godly living, dreams, and visions...it’s all in there.
Throughout the Bible, there are many accounts of God answering prayer. In the account below, God sent his angel Gabriel to answer Daniel. Today we have the Holy Spirit standing with us so God doesn't have to send us an angel with our answer. If we listen, we can hear God himself provide us answers.
Anyway, we can learn a great deal about prayer, not just from Daniel’s actions but Gabriel’s explanation of what was happening in the spiritual world.
"And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications, the commandment came forth, and I come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved. Therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."
(Daniel 9:22-23)"He said to me, Do not fear, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come for your words."
(Daniel 10:12)
A COMMAND WAS GIVEN
Did you catch that? The moment Daniel began praying God answered! It says, "a command was given." God doesn't delay. Thank goodness God isn't indecisive like we are and doesn't have to toss an idea around and debate with himself on what to do. He doesn't have to gather his angles together in a committee meeting to discuss and vote on what should happen next.
God has ALL wisdom, ALL knowledge, ALL love for us AND He knows the future. He knows us inside and out and still loves us so much that He gave his only son to die in our place so that we can join him in heaven one day. How awe-inspiring is that?!?
GOD'S WILL
God wasn't upset Daniel asked for help. He wants to give us wisdom and understanding of all things. A prayer requested in line with God's will (1 John 5:14) is nothing to the creator of all living things.
Daniel prayed in God's will. I’m positive he prayed Scripture back to God.
He didn't pray for God to overthrow the king so that he (Daniel) could be king, nor was he selfish or boastful in his prayers. Instead, Daniel prayed for an answer to the king's dream so that the king would not kill Daniel and his friends. But also (and more importantly), to show God's mighty power (Daniel 2:28).
"I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”
(Psalm 116:1-2)
HUMBLE YOURSELF
Daniel didn't gather together all his Christian friends to gossip about what was happening. What he did instead was to gather his Christian friends and urge them to go to God in prayer seeking answers. But of course, Daniel didn't stop there. He took it to God himself.
Not relying on his own understanding, Daniel didn't demand or try to make a deal with God or add to what God told him. He acknowledged who God is, made his request, and trusted God would answer him. He didn't take God's gift and run but took the time to thank God.
In short, Daniel humbled himself before God.
KEEP IT BETWEEN YOU AND GOD
While reading the book of Daniel we see that God may blind others to what He openly shows you. (Daniel 10:7). God Almighty might also seal your lips until he wants you to speak. (Daniel 10:16).
So don't be surprised if God only shares answered prayer with you and not everyone else or you want to speak about what God has shown you but feel you can't. Sometimes, God has planted a seed in your spirit that is just between you and him for a time. Be patient and allow that seed to go down deep into your soul while God works to arrange things the way they need to be.
"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles. I didn't immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus."
(Galatians 1:16-17)"Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me. But I kept the matter in my heart."
(Daniel 7:28)
THE ENEMY WILL COME
We see in chapter 10 that as soon as God answered, the devil did all he could to interfere and cause delays. We know that the enemy will come. We've heard it hundreds of times. Yet when it happens, we always seem to be taken by surprise.
As Daniel held steadfastly and prayed, God sent the angel Michael to help Gabriel so that Gabriel would be free to go to Daniel with the answer to his prayer. Keep in mind that God's angels didn't have to keep fighting for 21 days to get the answer to Daniel.
As we saw in other areas of the book of Daniel, God has a number of ways He could have given Daniel his answer. But God wanted Daniel (and us) to know that the battle is not ours but his. Yes, we must do our part as described above. Then we have to trust that the actual battle is happening in the spiritual realm instead of our physical realm.
Just as clueless as we would be, Daniel didn't know any of this was happening but he continued to pray, fast, and believe until he received an answer.
For Additional Reading: The types, lengths, and purpose of Biblical fasts.
FREE RESOURCE
A WONDERFUL PRACTICE TO BEGIN IS TO RECORD YOUR PRAYERS, HOW, AND WHEN GOD ANSWERS. CREATING THIS RECORD OF GOD’S ACTIVITY IN YOUR LIFE IS A GREAT REMINDER DURING YOUR DRY SEASONS THAT GOD HAS NEVER LEFT YOU AND IS ALWAYS PROVIDING FOR HIS CHILDREN.
TO HELP KEEP TRACK OF THESE PRAYERS, I CREATED A PRAYER AND PRAISE PRINTABLE IN OUR FREE RESOURCES LIBRARY (TAB AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE).
FINAL THOUGHTS
When we have something we are believing God for and we have prayed about it, do we last for a day continuing to trust and believing God? Do we last for a week, 21 days, a year, or longer? In some cases, we don't even last an hour before we allow ourselves to believe the lies the devil is whispering.
The Bible clearly shows that God answers immediately. He might need to get us to a place that we can accept his answer. God might be working other issues out that we know nothing about. But God always answers. What would have happened if Daniel got tired and discouraged or simply didn't have enough faith that God was listening?
The Bible gives us examples of people who have held fast in their prayers when they had to wait for days, weeks, months, and years. God has something to show us from each of those examples and it's up to us to seek out his message.
For Additional Reading: Why bother studying the Bible? Isn’t just reading it enough?
God doesn't want us to be cowering in the dark afraid and believing we are on our own. As His child, he wants us to stand straight and tall in his light knowing that our God has it all worked out and our answer is on its way!