Is there a secret to getting our prayers answered? Not really a secret, but there are certain truths involving our communication with God that can make prayer more than just a misuse of energy. Too often what we call prayer just isn't real prayer. Someone once made the comment, "Jesus never mentions unanswered prayer." Certainly His prayers always received the requested desire, but what about yours and mine?
First, our prayers are often hindered by our own unconfessed sins. So we must be clean before God so that our prayers will be heard. "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me." Psalm 66:18.
Next, we must pray with proper motivation. Whatever we do must be for the glory and honor of our God. Selfish praying bounces off of the ceiling! ". . .because we ask amiss that we may consume it upon our lusts," according to James 4.
God wants us to be able to communicate with Him. In fact He opened up the way into His presence through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. So, we can come to the Lord in prayer, and not only that, God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can pray correctly. This is the third principle of effective prayer: Pray in the Holy Spirit.
Jude verse 20 calls this "praying in the Holy Ghost."
Ephesians 6:18 reminds us, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
Zechariah 12:10 also foretells this privilege, "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:. . ."
Elijah prayed earnestly. The Spirit of God that was upon him, of which Elisha received a double portion, was the Spirit of prayer, earnest and effective prayer.
Jesus gives us a wonderful promise, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever." (John 14:16) The Holy Spirit, the Comforter has been given to believers so that we can pray, and pray effectively and fervently so that the work of witnessing can be done.
Romans 8:26 states, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." You and I can pray effectively because of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us and guides our prayers.
Let us then be filled with the Spirit of God. Being filled with the Spirit means to be CONTROLLED by Him, to be SUBMITTED to His power and leadership, and to be YIELDED to Him. The results of this filling are seen in the context of Ephesians 5:18. Singing, worshipping the Lord in melody with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (don't miss the fact that the Holy Spirit is always holy), submission to the Lord and those who are in authority or partnered with me in the work of God (spouses), and service. The Holy Spirit has been given so that we are transformed into "Christians" in our words, deeds, attitudes, attendances, dress, home-life, and every other part of our lives. Sin grieves Him. Dirt defiles Him. Disobedience quenches Him. And when this happens? Our prayer-lives suffer.
We have a vital connection with the Lord. Let us be constantly cultivating our life in the Spirit. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly is the admonition. We are invited to "draw near" in Hebrews. Anything that would hinder us must be removed! Oh, that we would be a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing!
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