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Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you’ll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today’s episode, Praying Like Jesus: Effective Prayer, will look at how to be powerful when we pray.
Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Effective Prayer
Jesus is the perfect Son of God and everything He does is wonderful, efficient, on time, and effective. Especially prayer. In earlier episodes, we looked at the Lord’s prayer and how few words can be powerful. How to be effective when tempted. To enter the secret place and to be thankful.
How can we make a powerful difference when we pray? Let’s go to the Word.
- Be in right standing with God. We get in right standing by our faith in Jesus Christ. James 5:16b says: “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” NKJV
- Worry less, thank God more. We are less anxious when we trust God and thank Him ahead of time. Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- God’s timing, God’s mercy. We are patient when we pray, believing God is merciful. Psalm 69:13 says: “But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.”
- Pray constantly and rejoice. We speak with the Father often, rejoicing in His goodness. I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I want my prayers to make a difference. I’m sure you do also. But we can’t doubt. Study the Word and be aware of prayer already answered to build your faith in Him. It’s not our fancy words or repetitious chanting that catches God’s attention. It’s our belief in Him; that He is good and ready to answer in His will and His way.
God has strengthened my faith through answered prayer so many times I’ve had trouble choosing one to share. My husband and I have been praying about moving. He wanted more land in our county to raise cattle on when he retired. Nothing fit our needs and after several months of looking, we gave up. I prayed God would show us what we needed to do. Months later, the land right next to our house became available and we were able to purchase it. God had a plan way beyond what we could ask or think. I mean, we didn’t even have to go through all the trouble of moving. We just fenced the land in and dug a pond. God truly can be trusted. He’ll take our hand if we let Him, and lead us to the right spot on the dance floor of life.
When we pray powerfully and effectively, God gets the ultimate glory. We realize that our part is to ask and He does all the rest. We keep asking and believing, knowing that He is good and faithful, and kind.
I love this quote from Corrie Ten Boom: “The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love.”
Let’s pray: Father God, we believe that You hear our prayers and that You answer according to Your will and way. Take our words and make a difference to the people we lift to You. You ultimately make our prayers effective and powerful. We give You all the glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
We can pray effectively and powerfully by keeping our eyes turned toward Him.
Today’s featured author is me, Jennifer Hallmark, the author of Jessie’s Hope, a southern family novel. Years ago, an accident robbed Jessie Smith’s mobility. It also stole her mom and alienated her from her father. When Jessie’s high school sweetheart Matt Jansen proposes, she worries that she cannot hold on to those she loves.
Determined to heal from her past, Jessie initiates a search for her father. Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love when obstacles–including a spurned woman and unpredictable weather–hijack Jessie’s dream wedding?
Learn more at jenniferhallmark.com/books
Next week, we’ll look at Jesus’s prayer of surrender. Until then, stay determined to dance…
Links:
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Remember: Praying Like Jesus: Effective Prayer
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
Thank you.
You’re welcome! Remember not to put too much pressure on yourself to pray perfectly. Just pour out your heart to God. 🙂