Prayer is the lifeline of the believer. The bible tells us that Elijah was a human being just like us, but his prayers produced such supernatural results. (James 5:13-18). Our prayers have or must have great power and produce wonderful results, however, sadly, this is often not the case.
Jesus was a man of prayer, whose prayer life produced such dynamic results. His disciples saw Him model the discipline of prayer, and saw how different it was from the other religious leaders’, because of the authority and power that backed His prayers. Such was the impact that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them also how to pray. He taught them what we now call the Lord’s Prayer or Model Prayer. (Luke 11:1-4 and/or Matthew 6:9-13)
Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV
“[9] In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
From Jesus’ teaching on prayer, we discover two fundamental keys to effective prayer: Relationship with the Father and Responsibility towards His Kingdom.
THE KEY OF RELATIONSHIP
Prayer is based on our relationship with God. He is our Father and we are His children and sons. (Galatians 4:4-7; Romans 8:15-16). At the heart/core of prayer is God, His love for fallen humanity and His desire for relationship and fellowship with us. Prayer is our channel of communication with Him.
When we don’t pray, we ignore God and assume control of our own lives. (Proverbs 3:4-5). However, God wants us to “call home,” talk to Him, get to know Him and understand Him as a Father, chat with Him, discuss issues with Him, confide in Him, ask Him for things, ask Him questions, listen to His answers, learn from Him and find out what He wants done. (Jeremiah 31:3; Jeremiah 9:23-24).
The Father wants us to acknowledge Him, so that He can direct our paths. Therefore, it is in the place of prayer that we get to hear His voice, discern and know His purposes, plans and will, and gain the strength to do it. (Jeremiah 33:3; Colossians 1:9-11).
God established from the beginning that through our relationship and fellowship with Him, we shall fulfil His will on the earth. We are God’s agents to advance and establish His kingdom on earth. We have been given power and authority to do that, but we need to be in constant communication with the Father, in order to fulfil His will on earth. This is why there are many things that God would not do on earth, unless believers (His children) prayed. (John 5:19-20; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 62:6-7)
The fundamental key of relationship is, therefore, the greatest key to answered prayer. The deeper the acquaintance and fellowship, the surer we are that He hears and answers us. (Isaiah 65:24). We must therefore, endeavour to know the Father and get better acquainted with Him. (Job 22:21-28)
THE KEY OF RESPONSIBILITY
Luke 2:49 NKJV
“And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?””
The second fundamental key to effective prayer is responsibility. We have a responsibility towards God and His kingdom because of our relationship with Him. (Luke 2:49; John 5:36)
Jesus lived life from the place and position of His relationship with His Father, and the responsibility that accompanied that relationship. Jesus’ primary responsibility on earth was to proclaim the Kingdom of God and give all an opportunity to access it. (Luke 4:43)
As sons of God, our first and foremost responsibility is to bring glory to our Father. God’s intention is to use the Church, His sons in Christ, to display His manifold wisdom to the principalities, powers and rulers of the heavenly places, and thus, bring glory to Himself. (Ephesians 3:10–12)
Jesus told us in John 15:7–8: “But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father.”
Our second responsibility, which is linked with the first and is just as important, is to advance God’s Kingdom – bringing God’s righteousness, peace and joy to the world. (Romans 14:17). Jesus summarised our responsibility in the Great Commission:
Matthew 28:18–20 ESV
“[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
As sons of God, we have a battle on our hands to redeem the souls of men and establish His Kingdom in our homes, communities and nations, which we can never accomplish without prayer. Therefore, to be effective in prayer, we must grow and develop in our relationship with the Father and own our responsibility towards His Kingdom.
GROWING IN RELATIONSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY
John 14:21, 23 ESV
“[21] Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him…” [23] Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.””
We can develop our relationship with God as our Father and our responsibility towards Him by getting better acquainted with the Word of God. Read and study the Bible to not only know more about God, but also to be obedient to its instructions. When we are obedient to the Word of God, we deepen our revelation of and relationship with Him.
Secondly, we can develop and deepen our relationship with the Father and our responsibility towards Him by learning to pray (communicate with Him always) at all times and about all things. Pray – have conversations with Him in your prayer closet, in the shower, whilst driving, etc. Maintain a continuous, lifelong attitude of communion and dependence on God. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Talk to the Father about yourself – your successes, challenges, struggles and needs, etc. Talk to Him about your family and friends – their salvation, needs, problems, etc. Talk to Him about your community, your workplace, etc. – their challenges. Talk to Him about your town and city. Talk to Him about your nation. Then, LISTEN to what the Father has to say, especially through the Scriptures, and obey any instructions given.
The Father will certainly listen and answer your prayers, as He works in partnership with us, His children and sons, to bring glory to His name. Jesus promised us that the Father would surely hear and answer our prayers. The Holy Spirit is available to help us develop our relationship with the Father and take on the responsibility of His Kingdom. This is the essence of effective prayer!
John 16:23–27 ESV
“[23] In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. [24] Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. [25] I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. [26] In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; [27] for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” AMEN!
Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace
(CEO, Women In Tune | Convenor, QUIVER Prayer Movement)
For more information, click on the relevant link:
Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace
Women In Tune
QUIVER Prayer Movement
Women Walking Wednesdays
To invite Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace to speak at your conference, meeting or event, send an email to Mary at
mary@womenintune.org
