Effective Prayer

Effective Prayer

James 5:16 “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

What makes a prayer effective or fervent or both? To most people, an effective prayer is one to which the answer is “Yes.” And one that is answered both visibly and quickly. A fervent prayer is one given with great passion perhaps. Or maybe it is prayer repeated with urgency several times. If either of these were true, most of our prayers would be answered in a heartbeat and to our own personal satisfaction. As it is, most prayer isn’t answered that way at all and requires more than just us pleading with God for something.

So what is the answer then? Well Jesus said that “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8.  So it strikes me that our most effective praying is not for ourselves but for others. But surely there is still an ingredient missing from the recipe.  Jesus also said something else quite interesting. He said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.

Ah, now, perhaps we are getting somewhere. If we seek His righteousness first, then, perhaps, the Lord might credit us that same righteousness. Then if we pray for others more than ourselves and add a big dose of fervency, then, just perhaps, our prayer will be effective? Er – maybe – but even this omits “faith as big as a mustard seed.” Or perhaps we should consider James 1:6 “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

I think we are getting into deeper water here. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man”  – what is it that makes it “avail much”?  What is it makes it effective? I have seen more effective prayers come from children in one minute than comes from a group of intercessors in 12 hours of earnest, fervent intercessory prayer – why is that? Certainly faith like that of a child has great importance here but I think it is a combination of many things that, together, point to a holier life.

·        Seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.

·        Pray for others more than for self.

·        Have faith – don’t doubt.

·        Pray with child-like faith.

·        Pray fervently – without ceasing – using all the gifts of the Spirit at your disposal.

·        Pray within God’s will for the situation.

Effective prayer – a complex, almost enigmatic thing.

Just one final thing. If your prayer isn’t answered to your timing, the answer isn’t necessarily ‘no’. It could be ‘later’, or it could be, “I’ve got a better idea.” Sometimes it is a ‘no’, but mostly it is to do with God’s plans and timing.