6 Tips for a More Powerful Prayer Life

1) Know Who You’re Talking To:

    Go outside at night and look up at the stars.  Many of them are so far away that it took the light from them–traveling at 186,000 miles per second–thousands and thousands of years just to get here.

You are praying to the God that created all of this unbelievably vast universe (and probably more that we haven’t even discovered yet).  He is indescribably perfect, white-hot in His holiness, and infinite in His wisdom, power, justice, and grace.

One reason we pray selfishly or anemically is we have far too low a view of God.

2) Get Clean:

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 

    1 John 1:8-10

    “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”

                        -Ps:66:18

3)  Pray Big

   “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  “

                        – Eph:3:20

    Don’t settle for praying for what you think could happen.

Challenge God and pray for what you think couldn’t possibly happen!   He is a God who is not threatened by the impossible.

Nothing is difficult for Him.

4) Pray Specifically

   I believe generic prayers get generic answers–so generic that we don’t even recognize them as such.

Specific prayers get very specific answers, which increase our ability to trust God the next time.

Take a week and don’t use the word “bless” in your prayers.   It’ll really help you to pray with specificity . . .

5) Pray Expectantly

I think God is eager to answer prayers coming from people that think he might actually come through, rather than those who doubt his ability and willingness.

6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.   (Hebrews 11:6)

6) Pray Persistently  

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

– Luke:18:1

Jesus told this parable because he knew that we would feel like giving up on prayer sometimes!   I know I do.

19th century Christian leader George Mueller (who founded 117 schools and cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime of prayer) prayed for 2 men to become believers in Jesus–for 50 years.  One became a believer right before he died, the other right after.

Mueller’s Wikipedia entry says simply “Müller prayed about everything and expected each prayer to be answered.”

7) Pray Aggressively

    God and satan aren’t equals fighting it out for control of the universe.   God is in control.  Watch how Daniel (a prophet from the Old Testament) prays:    

       “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.  [18] Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  [19] O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

                    -Dan:9:17-19

8) Pray The Bible

The Bible is absolutely loaded with model prayers we can modify for use in our own time with God.   Some of these are described in more details in other posts on this site.  Here are just a few examples:

 

  •     Col:1:9-14
  •     Eph:3:16-19
  •     Phil:1:9-11

 

9) Establish a Daily Time With God

   Have a specific time and place to meet with God where you can pray and read your Bible/Bible app.   Set a timer on your phone to remind you each day if need be.  If you’re starting from scratch, one minute is better than nothing.  Giving up one Netflix sitcom episode buys you 22 minutes each day.  There is time in your schedule for prayer if you are serious about finding it.