Basic Principles of Prayer
Prayer is a powerful tool that connects us personally with Almighty God, allowing us to experience intimacy, seek His guidance, express our gratitude, and intercede for others. Understanding some of the core principles of effective prayer can transform our spiritual lives and deepen our relationship with the Lord. In this post, we will explore some of the key principles of prayer, each being supported by Scripture, to help you cultivate a more meaningful prayer life that never ends.
Principle 1: Pray with Faith
Faith is the foundation of effective prayer. Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). Keep in mind, this principle goes hand-in-hand with principle 2. When we pray with unwavering faith, we trust that God hears us and will respond according to His will. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Praying with faith pleases the Lord, because it shows Him that you trust His Word.
Principle 2: Pray According to God’s Will
Praying according to God’s will ensures that our prayers align with His purposes. 1 John 5:14-15 states, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” Seeking God’s will in our prayers helps us to FOCUS on His plans rather than our desires.
Additionally, it is important to pray with a neutral heart, free from personal biases and agendas, so that God’s will is not hindered. James 4:3 warns, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” By approaching God with a heart that is open and neutral, we allow His will to be done without interference from our own desires.
Principle 3: Pray with Persistence
Persistence in prayer demonstrates our commitment and trust in God’s timing. Jesus taught us to be persistent in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). He encourages us to “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). James 5:16b-18 highlights the power of persistent prayer through the example of Elijah, who prayed earnestly for rain, and God answered his prayers. Throughout the Bible, we clearly see the people of God praying repetitively and consistently to the Lord. Persistence does not mean you do not trust God, in fact, it means the opposite, because you are still praying, EXPECTING a response from Him.
Principle 4: Pray with Humility
Humility is absolutely essential in approaching God in prayer. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” A few verses before, James says, “God is in opposition to the proud and honors the humble by giving them grace” (James 4:6). When we come before God with a humble heart, we acknowledge our TOTAL dependence on Him and His sovereignty. The Pharisee and the tax collector’s parable (Luke 18:9-14) illustrates the importance of humility in prayer, as the tax collector’s humble plea for mercy was heard by God. The reason we see so much about humility in the Bible is because God IS Humility. It is who He is; therefore, it is who we should desire to be.
Principle 5: Pray with a Pure Heart
A pure heart is crucial for effective prayer. Psalm 66:18 warns, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness purifies our hearts and aligns us with His will. 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” You cannot approach God rightly if there is sin in your life. One of the scariest Scriptures in the Bible is this, Isaiah 59:2, “It is your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.” This verse shows us how important having a pure heart before the Lord is. Jesus made it easily accessible to receive purity from the Lord through His death, burial, and resurrection. “He became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
By embracing these principles of prayer—faith, alignment with God’s will, persistence, humility, and a pure heart—we can experience a deeper and more effective prayer life with our Father. Let us continually seek God’s presence and guidance through prayer, trusting that He hears us and will answer according to His perfect will.
Pray This.
Jesus, I thank you for dying for me. Lord, I come to you now, confessing all of my sin to you, and giving it all to you to throw away. Forgive me, Lord, for all of my impure actions and motives. God, I know that I have received the righteousness of my Savior who died for me. Lord, allow for me to live out praying with faith in my daily life with you. Holy Spirit, I pray that You give me Your faith right now in this moment and for every moment to come. I desire to walk in Your will, in Your ways, and I want to pray according to Your will. Lord, give me a heart of persistence, that builds my faith and trust in You. God, I ask Lord, that You remove all pride and arrogance from my life in Jesus’ name, so that I can come before You, my Father, in humility and meekness. Lord as David prayed, I ask You to create in me a clean heart, making known to me my sin, and purifying me from all unrighteousness. I love You my God! I cherish Your presence, and I desperately need You! I pray all of this in confidence that You hear me, and will answer me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May each of our readers be blessed and overflow with the love of Jesus!
