How To Learn To Pray Effectively

We want it to be worth our time and effort whenever we do something. For example, if a student is about to begin studying, they want their study time to be effective, wherein they understand all the information they are reading, making the time and effort they put in worth it. The same goes for us when we pray. When we pray, we would like our prayers to be effective, not just empty words that go wherever the wind brings them. The good thing is that Christ is the one who makes our prayers effective.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for whatever makes my prayers effective and able to reach Your ears, which are not my good works but the righteousness of Christ. Thank You for granting me access to Your throne of grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What Makes Our Prayers Effective?

When we pray, we want our prayers to be effective, but what makes our prayers effective in the first place? Is there a phrase we should say when praying, as though our prayers are ineffective unless we say that particular phrase? Does the manner of prayer determine whether our prayers are effective? The answer as to what makes prayer effective is given to us in James 5:16. It is written there that the prayer of a righteous person has great power and is working. In other words, it means that a righteous person’s prayer has great power and is effective.

In other words, what makes a person’s prayer effective is whether they are righteous. That makes sense, given that if we are in sin, we are separated from God because God is holy and man is not. Whenever we pray, our prayers are but filthy rags in the sight of God if we are living in sin (Isaiah 64:6). Our state because of our sin is similar to Genesis 3, where we have been exiled from the presence of God. Isaiah 59:2 also teaches us about the separation between God and humans because of our iniquities, for it is written, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Whenever people who are not in Christ pray, their prayers are ineffective because they do not reach God. Isaiah 59:1 tells us that it is not as though God is deaf or cannot hear such prayers or that His hand is so short that it cannot reach. It’s just that we are separated from Him because of our sins. Because of that, our prayers will never reach God. How can we expect our prayers to have power and work if they don’t reach God?

Christ is the game changer here. Despite being exiled and separated from the presence of God because of our sins, Christ has restored us to God, our very home and dwelling place (Psalm 90). God in the person of Jesus Christ has restored and reconciled us to Himself (Colossians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Such is the magnificent work of Christ. Ephesians 2:13-16 tells us that we who were once lost because of our sin have now been brought near to God through the blood of Jesus. The sacrifice of Christ has broken down the dividing wall of hostility between God and man. In Christ, we now have the confidence to enter holy places and even come before God’s throne of grace to ask Him for the grace and mercy we need (Hebrews 10:19-22; Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.).

This tells us that what makes our prayers effective is Christ. Righteousness is the prerequisite for a person’s prayers to be effective. James 5:16 says that the righteous man’s prayer has great power and is effective. Christ is the solution, for Christ is our bronze serpent whom we can look up to and whose righteousness we can count on (Numbers 21:4-9; Romans 3:22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,). We are righteous because of Christ’s work and His imputed righteousness upon us. Hence, Christ is our source of confidence that our prayers are effective (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is not a “what” but a “Who” that makes our prayers effective.

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming down to Earth to dwell with us, to live the life we should have lived and die the death we should have died. You didn’t stay dead but resurrected after three days, showing indeed that You are the Son of God and can offer eternal life and forgiveness to those who believe in You. You are my righteousness and confidence, which makes every prayer I have effective. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

How To Pray Effectively?

Knowing that it is Christ who makes our prayers effective, how can we pray effectively? We can pray effectively by evaluating whether we are in Christ or not. If we are in Christ, believe in His finished work on the cross, trust in His work and perfect righteousness, and believe that He is indeed the Son of God and has risen from the dead, then our prayers are already effective. In other words, we pray effectively by praying in Christ, knowing that our prayers are only heard by the Father through the righteousness of Christ. Not only are our prayers heard in Christ, but the Father is well pleased with us in Him.

Father in heaven, You know the prayer requests that I have. These prayer requests I have, I pray not in confidence of my good works nor righteousness, for I don’t have any, but I pray them confidently, knowing that You will hear them and that they are effective because of the righteousness that Christ has imputed upon me. Christ is my hope and confidence that all of my prayers have power and that they are working. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Have you ever wondered why, as Christians, we always end our prayer with the phrase “In Jesus’ name?” It’s not because it is some special kind of ritual. Rather, it is because we pray not in our name but in Christ’s name. We pray upon Christ’s name, who is perfectly righteous in the eyes of the Father. Christ’s blessings are due to His holy and sinless life. He gives it to us, even as He takes on all the curses we have brought upon ourselves.