While prayer is one of our most valuable spiritual assets, few believers understand the importance of prayer. In reality, prayer is the breath of our soul in direct communion with God. Unfortunately, prayer is not the first priority for many believers; other activities frequently seem more exciting and meaningful. Often, we avoid prayer both individually and corporately because we don’t understand it. Even believers who pray regularly with conviction and obtain some results, have doubts about certain aspects of prayer. Many believers still read the Bible, and they know that the Word is supposed to work, but they have rarely experienced answers to prayer. Unanswered prayer produces frustration and confusion, causing them to question God’s character and His promise to answer when they call. Consequently, instead of standing in faith, they begin to walk in doubt, failing to live up to their potential as children of the Most High God. 

There are many great Christians who are not fulfilling their potential as intercessors because they don’t understand certain key aspects of prayer. God instituted prayer, and throughout the old and new covenant, there are numerous examples of answered prayers, prayed by great prayer warriors like Jehoshaphat, (2 Chronicles 20), Elijah (1 Kings 17), the Prophet Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1), Daniel (Daniel 9), and the psalmists in the Book of Psalms. The key principles evident in their prayers are confession of personal and corporate sins and adoration of the King via praise and worship, after which they ask for insight to accomplish their purpose.

But that is not the way we usually pray. Instead, we pray requesting help or to avoid punishment. Perhaps we mumble a request for a better job, more money, more in the way of material goods. But these things do not please God, who said, “And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong–you want only what will give you pleasure.” (James 4:3, NLT). Prayer was not designed simply to convince God to pay our bills or do what we want, but rather to unite our contrite heart and with His in fellowship, for if we pray with the right attitudes, He promises to hear and answer our prayers.

NOTE: I grew up in a Christian home in Jamaica and went to church often. As a child, I never missed Sunday school or church. Because my home had no prayer life, I did not know how to pray and saw little value in learning how. And while there were a few believers who said they were fasting, I watched as they lived as though they were not fasting, praying only insincere prayers, not seriously seeking God's face for answers for their lives or their community. The truth is, we needed help then and we still need help today! I remember my pastor saying, "There will be all night prayer on Friday." Some people made it. Some did not. Those who made it brought their pillows, sheets, food and kids as well as their witchcraft books. And no, they did not bring their Bibles. Sadly, prayer nights became gossip sessions, and the house of prayer became nothing but a social club. I did not stay the whole night. Unlike those in that club, I made it to the real club, and this club was not lukewarm--it became hot on occasion, out of desperate need!

Many times I heard women praying, "God, my babies have no food; my children cannot go to school today because I have no lunch money for them; my lights were cut off and I have no money to turn them back on; my water bill is due from last month and I don’t have the money to pay the bill. My son Johnny is in jail. My daughter is pregnant. My son Freddie got stabbed. My husband is a drunk, and is sleeping with Sister June. She is the reason I get no money and why the rent cannot be paid and my hair cannot be braided this week. God, can you help me to find a job so that I can leave this man and pay my bills? Lord, you see my trouble.” Some of the men’s prayers were much shorter. Because I didn't have a true grasp of the importance of prayer, my prayer was, "God, I need new pants, a new shirt, and a new pair of shoes.” Our concept of prayer was wrong because the church did not teach us to pray.

In the same way, the Children of Israel were living a lifestyle of the world, taking lightly the things of God and breaking the heart of Nehemiah, the prophet. Do you remember what king Artaxerxes said to Nehemiah when he saw him looking depressed? “Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is sorrow of heart. What do you want me to do for you?” In other words the king was saying, “You are a part of my kingdom, where I am in control of all things, and I will make available whatever you need to fulfill your heart's desire.” When Nehemiah heard that, he said, “Let the king live forever.” In other words he was saying, “I agree with you. Because of your gracious offer, I have all I need to accomplish my assignment." This is the kind of faith we need, in order to accomplish God's assignments. And our prayers are to be like Nehemiah’s: purpose-driven, and prayed in alignment with God’s will.

Let me ask you these questions: Are you in a church that is teaching you how to pray? Do you understand the principles that govern prayer? Effective prayer is something we learn, so don’t let anyone tell you that you need more faith for your prayers to be answered. Your faith can have the strength of a lion, but if you are not praying according to God’s principles, your prayers won't be answered. Because I did not understand my purpose, and because no one taught me God's vision for prayer, my prayer life was frustrating and full of confusion. Praying without a purpose is much like driving a race car with one of the carburetor’s jets missing. If we don't learn how to pray effectively, we are missing the mark, the very reason we live.

I was blessed as I studied Jesus Christ’s prayer life and read about the time His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. Even before this time, the disciples certainly had some kind of prayer life, but only at that point did they clearly hear and understand the mechanics of Jesus' prayers. First and foremost, Christ always prayed in agreement with the Father’s will and prayed according to His purpose. Unlike Christ, we are not born knowing how to pray, but must, like the disciples, learn what to say. When Jesus' disciples asked for instruction, He gave them clear instruction, revealing the principles of effective prayer. “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:2-4, KJV).

The first principle is: To pray in accordance with God's will. “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us; and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:14-15, KJV). God’s will is for man's desires to conform to His desires, to want what He wants, and ask Him to accomplish His purpose through them on the earth, so that righteousness and truth may reign in the world rather than evil. So you may ask how do we know when our petitions are in His will? The answer is found in your purpose. We are to ask God to accomplish what we have been given to do, based on our purpose. When we know God’s will and purpose for our life and are obedient to it, and when we, therefore, ask Him to fulfill it, God will give us what we ask of Him, whether we are interceding corporately or individual for family, community, people or nations. Prayer is a powerful weapon for believers in this world. It can transform lives, change circumstances, give peace that passes all understanding and give perseverance in the midst of any trial, bringing nations to their knees. Remember that God answers prayer in four ways:

• Yes, this is my will also.

• No, I don’t want you to get hurt.

• Wait for my timing and my very best.

• My grace is sufficient:. I want you to trust me, because I am sufficient even in the middle of trials.

It’s God’s desire that you experience intimacy with Him, receiving spiritual strength through your prayers, to fulfill His will and your purpose.

Are you facing a decision in your life that is too large for you to accomplish?

Are you going through difficulty that has left you frustrated, confused, disappointed and disheartened?

What is it that has become a burning bush in your life and just keeps burning and burning?

God said “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things; which thou knowest not" (Jere33:3:KJV).