Some Principles of Prayer

In our Bibles we read about God’s people who had some powerful beliefs in their prayers, people like Elijah, but I am sure that they followed the laid down principles from which God was ready to answer their requests.

1)  You must have faith. “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22). It means one must believe that God is able to do what you ask Him to do. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. “For whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

2)  You must be thankful. “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil.4:6). Thanksgiving is a worship state of mind which is as important as believing in God’s power to help.

3)  You must be at one with God, says Jesus Christ: “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). There is the same meaning in the Psalm: “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15). Thus identification with God’s righteous purpose is very important.

4)  You must be resigned to His will. “And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything, according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14). “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt … Thy will be done” (Mat 26:39-42). Therefore it is reasonable to yield to His will before you pray.

5)  You must be patient. As David said: “I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1). “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Ps.27:14). If all prayers were answered immediately under the urgency of our pleading, we would probably be sadly disillusioned. Our vision is so limited that it is always wisest to wait for God to answer as and when His wisdom may deem best.

6)  You must cherish no sinful desire. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). This does not mean that a person has to be perfect before he can pray over and over again; God invites sinners to call upon Him. But you must be sorry for your sins, and be willing to be free from every evil thought, word and deed for your prayers to be effective, and you must pray in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son(John14:13). God has given us opportunities to come to know him, talk to him, and to grow into his likeness through prayer. Let us keep on praying without ceasing as our Lord Jesus did.

Bro James Mwangomo (Mbeya, Tanzania)