ELEVEN POINTS FOR A MORE POWERFUL PRAYER LIFE


  1. Pray MORE!
    1. Most Christians spend very little time in prayer.
    2. How much time did you spend praying yesterday? last week?
    3. We often reserve prayer for EMERGENCY use only.
    4. We need more Daniels -- Daniel 6:10


  2. Be more SPECIFIC
    1. Prayers are often far too general, too vague. More praying should be done for specific people, specific needs, etc. (Ghanians)
    2. Prayer should be fitted to the occasion: Two boys found themselves in what appeared to be disaster with no way of escape. One boy prayed the only prayer he had ever heard his father pray, "God, make us thankful for what we are about to receive!"
    3. Acts 4:29; Ephesians 6:19
    4. 3 John 2


  3. Pray with greater FAITH
    1. Weak faith and futile prayers are connected -- James 1:6. Doubts and uncertainty hinder our prayers.
    2. Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2-3
    3. The source for a greater faith is God's Word -- Romans 10:17


  4. Rise above the sin of COVETOUSNESS
    1. A covetous spirit hinders our prayers -- James 4:2
    2. Some pray coveting the praise of men -- Matthew 6:5-8
    3. Selfish hearts do not gain the ear of God. A loving and giving God is seeking to bless those with generous spirits.


  5. Pray with greater ZEAL & FERVENCY
    1. An important ingredient of acceptable prayer is enthusiasm or fervency -- James 5:16
    2. Acts 4:23-31
    3. Prayers coming only from the lips, and not from the hearts, are hollow and empty -- Matthew 15:8-9




  1. Improve your MARRIAGE
    1. 1 Peter 3:7 -- admonitions to husbands
    2. Titus 2:4-5 -- admonitions to wives


  2. Grow more GODLY
    1. The more righteous we become, the more our prayers accomplish (James 5:16; 1 Peter 3:12). Elijah's success in prayer was directly related to his righteousness in life.
    2. A rebellious spirit and unrepented-of sins will always hinder our prayers (Prov 1:24-33; Prov 28:9; Isa 59:1-2).


  1. Grow in HUMILITY
    1. The first beatitude was on humility (Matthew 5:3)
    2. The proud heart is rejected by God (James 4:6; Luke 18:10-14)


  2. Cultivate a FORGIVING spirit:
    1. Christians should NEVER be "grudge-holders!"
    2. Matthew 6:12


  3. Pray with PERSISTENCE
    1. Luke 11:1-13
    2. Luke 18:1-5


  4. Combine prayers with ACTION -- Acts 4:29, 31
    1. Pray as though everything depends upon God. Then work as though everything depends upon you.
    2. A farmer with this sign on his farm: "Pray for a good harvest, but keep on plowing."
    3. We must not pray for the lonely and fail to visit.
    4. We must not pray to God for the lost and fail to teach the Gospel.
    5. We must not pray for the elders and disrespect their authority.
    6. We must not pray for the church and tear her down through indifference, criticism, and poor example.
    7. We must not pray for forgiveness of our sins when we refuse to make needed changes in our thinking and in our lives.