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| Volume 28 Number 4 April 2026 |
Page 14 |
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| Volume 28 Number 4 April 2026 |
Page 14 |
Gary Hampton
Prayer is the avenue God has given us to take things before His throne. The power of that statement causes faithful Christians to desire to make their prayers as effective as possible.
Effective prayer begins with the realization that it is directed to God (Matthew 6:5–8; 7:7–11). It is made when one approaches the Father through His Son. “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34 NKJV; Hebrews 4:14–16; 9:24; 1 John 5:14–15).
Sin must be put away by one desiring to offer an effective prayer (Psalm 34:15–16; 66:18; Proverbs 15:29; 1 John 1:9). Setting aside sin also necessitates setting aside the sins others may have committed against the praying one. He must forgive before asking (Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25–26; Colossians 3:13).
God is holy and cannot fellowship the unholy (1 Peter 1:15–16). Prayer is only useful if one believes God can answer (James 1:5–7; Ephesians 3:20; Mark 11:24; Isaiah 64:4). God will only answer those who set themselves aside. James declared, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3; Matthew 6:19–21). Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector demonstrates this point (Luke 18:9–14).
The hardest part of effective prayer may be that it must be practiced persistently. Jesus and Paul both stressed this important element (Luke 18:1–8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 1:9; Philippians 1:3–4).
Those of us wanting to improve our prayer lives need to make a concerted effort in each of these areas. Our God is able to answer!
