Prayer Principles

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

A powerful way to help our prayers be more effective is to follow these 8 steps and guidance examples from God’s word.

1. Be persistent. Luke 18:1-6 Teaches us to pray and not give up. Persistence pays off.

2. Be patient. Luke 18:9-14 Don’t have an “I” problem. Get spiritual pride and be humble. Be right with God.

3. Be pardoning. Mark 11:25 How can you forgive if you can forgive yourself first.

4. Be plain spoken. Matt. 6:7-8 Don’t give meaningless words. Are you doing memorized prayers? Is repetition not giving any meaning? If you have to know what you are saying, don’t use vain repetition.

5. Be private. Luke 5:16, Matt. 6 Even when large crowds were around, he still slipped away.  Examples of Jesus praying in public. John 11:41-42 and when he was on the cross. Make your prayers respectful, not in a way just to be seen by others that you are praying.

6. Be praising. Col. 4:2 Paul asked for prayers and keep alert and fresh so you think about what you are saying.

7. Be purposeful. I Tim. 2:1-4 Rulers -James 5:15-16 Sick – Matt. 5:44 – Enemies

8. Renew your friendship in the Lord. James 4:8 God just wants to hear from us.

John 15:12-17 Have actions to show that you love one another. You have to prove in your actions, or it is not shown.

1. Ways to study – Chapter’s, read small groups for topics, start with a prayer to focus. Memorize parts, summaries, be prepared to know the answers.

2. How to memorize – Take time. Start in small parts. Use mnemonically sayings, rhyme or gimics to memorize sayings. Sing the song, or list them on small note cards, or post it sticky notes.  Place in different locations and saturate yourself more.  It’s a continuous process that you have to keep up. It becomes a routine to keep memorizing and medititation to be successful.

3. Mnemonics is a tool – How does it apply? Acts – Prayer element

4. Foundation for our choices.  Is how the scriptures can be beneficial to us.

5. How does Jesus exemplify a dynamic prayer life? Often and privately with examples.

6. Prayer can continuously help mindset. Prayer regularly. How can you put prayer in your routine and when you need it and focus with prayer.

Luke 18:1 Don’t loose hope. Psalms – Praying in the might when you can’t sleep, etc. Do you keep your prayers balanced? Keep your list to pray about different things.  Apply your prayer principles by writing it down.

I Kings 18: 36-38

Elijah prayed every evening and stressed he was the Lord.

Hezekiah, 2 Kings 19:14-19, 35 Wanted everyone to know that He is God.

Nehemiah 2:4,8 Request to the Lord to rebuild the city and God answered his prayer.

Daniel 6:10, 23 Daniel prayed 3 times a day.

Jonah 1, 2, 7, 10 He prayed inside the fish. God answered his prayer.

Peter and John – Acts 4:24-29 Know God is creator. Prayed for courage and confidence.

Dorcus – Acts 9:40-41 Tabitha opened her eyes and prayed for life.

Paul – 2 Cor. 12:7-10 Why has Satan do this to me? Did you stop to take time to pray?

Follow the steps to salvation:

Hear – Rom. 10:17

Believe – Mark 16:16

Repent – Acts 3:19

Confess – Rom. 10:9

Baptized – Acts 2:38

Endure – Heb. 10:36

Listen to more sermons that will give you more prayer principles here.