Prayer, advice for effective

Scripture provides guidance concerning what attitudes and actions are appropriate for effective prayer. It also identifies a number of motives which are likely to lead to prayers being unanswered.

Hindrances to prayer

Sin

Isaiah 59:2 See also Psalm 66:18; Jeremiah 14:10–12; Lamentations 3:42–44; Micah 3:4

But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

Disobedience

Zechariah 7:13 See also Deuteronomy 1:43–45; Proverbs 1:28–31

And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.

Selfishness

James 4:3

And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Injustice

Isaiah 1:15–17 See also Proverbs 21:13; Isaiah 58:1–7

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Lack of faith

James 1:6–7

But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Qualities that lead to effective prayer

Humility

Luke 18:9–14 See also 2 Samuel 7:18; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 51:16–17; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 8:8 parallel Luke 7:6

To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — swindlers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Obedience

1 John 3:21–22 See also 1 Samuel 15:22; Jeremiah 7:22–23

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.

Righteousness

Proverbs 15:29 See also 1 Kings 3:11–12; Psalm 34:15

The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Single-mindedness

Jeremiah 29:13 See also Deuteronomy 4:29; 1 Chronicles 28:9

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Faith

Matthew 21:21–22 parallel Mark 11:22–24 See also Matthew 7:7–11 parallel Luke 11:9–13; Matthew 8:5–13 parallel Luke 7:1–10; Matthew 15:21–28 parallel Mark 7:24–30; John 14:12–14

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”