The Results of Praying Effectively
David W Palmer
JESUS prayed effectively. He shows both his dedication to prayer and his belief in prayer’s indispensable necessity by when and how he made time to pray:
(Mark 1:35 NKJV) Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Later, when facing his most intense battle with his flesh and self-will, Jesus’s priority was again to pray in solitude. This prayer was effective; Father didn’t change the plan for him to die, but he did strengthen him to go through what he had to … to free us:
(Luke 22:41–43 NKJV) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, {42} saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” {43} Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
Jesus’s disciples must have realised that his prayer life was a key to his success and effectiveness. So they asked him to teach them how to pray like he did:
(Luke 11:1–3 NKJV) Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” {2} So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. …”
Peter was one of the disciples that received this teaching from Jesus. Plus he obviously learnt from watching the Master at work and at prayer. When Jesus released Peter into his ministry, he did what he had seen with Jesus. First, he prayed; then after receiving heaven’s revelation of wisdom, strength, and power, he imitated Jesus. Like Jesus had done at the bedside of the 12 year old girl that had died, when faced with a similar scenario, Peter put all onlookers outside. Then he prayed and did what he was told. This was certainly effective prayer:
(Acts 9:40 NKJV) But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
Other New Testament followers of Jesus prayed effectively too … and the Place Shook:
(Acts 4:31 NKJV) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Many Old Testament Saints and heroes of the faith prayed effectively too. For example:
(James 5:17 NKJV) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
The apostle Paul Prayed effectively—very fruitfully; he prayed himself out of a literal prison and into an amazing move of evangelism and church planting:
(Acts 16:25–33 NKJV) But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. {26} Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. {27} And the keeper of the prison … said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” {31} So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. {33} And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Prayer is important! Prayer is a great privilege. We need to know how to enjoy it and be successful at receiving answers. So, learning from Jesus, Paul, and others about prayer is crucial for us to bear the fruit that Father is looking for:
(John 15:7–8 NKJV) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
