Main Idea of This Teaching

Effective prayer is not just the right words spoken with authority. It is a practical life with God, and a heart that listens to the Father, abides in Christ, forgives, has right motives, prays in the Holy Spirit, believes with perseverance, and takes steps of obedience.

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1. Introduction — Recapping Part One

In part one, we talked about how prayer that works is not merely a religious activity.

• We said that God is not a God who needs to be convinced or forced into action. He is a good Father, the one Jesus showed us.
• We also talked about how there are things we ask the Father for, but there are also things we are to speak to with authority.
• Jesus didn’t only pray to the Father. Jesus also spoke with authority to a storm, to a fig tree, to sickness, to demons, and to a dead Lazarus.

But today I want to go further.

• Because it’s possible to know the teaching on authority and still not listen to God.
• It’s possible to know the verses about prayer and not abide in Christ.
• It’s possible to say the right words while carrying a heart full of unforgiveness, pride, or wrong motives.
• It’s possible to pray for a long time without ever taking a step of obedience.

That’s why today I don’t want to talk about what we say in prayer, but about what kind of life stands behind our prayer. Because prayer that works is not just a matter of the lips. It’s a matter of the heart, of relationship, of listening, of abiding, of faith, and of obedience. Prayer is not just a moment when I say something. Prayer is an expression of the life I’m living with God.

2. Effective Prayer Begins with Listening, with Cooperating with God

In part one, we talked a lot about how faith speaks. That we are to speak to the mountain. That we are to confess the Word. That we are to use authority in the name of Jesus. But before a person of faith speaks, a person of faith listens. Prayer is not only speaking to God. Prayer is also listening to God. Jesus answered them:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” – John 5:19

Jesus had greater authority than anyone, and yet He said, “the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do.”

• Jesus did not act independently.
• Jesus did not minister under the pressure of people.
• Jesus did not merely react to needs.

Jesus was watching the Father. This is the key to effective prayer. We often want to act right away. Someone comes to us with a problem, and we immediately say, “I’ll pray about it,” or “I’ll command it,” but Jesus shows us a different way. He looks to the Father first.

A Practical Example:

Someone comes and says, “I have great fear. I’m sleeping poorly. I’m afraid of the future…” You can pray the standard prayer right away: “Lord, take away this fear. Give peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.” And sometimes that will be the right thing to do, but sometimes the Holy Spirit may want to show you something deeper:

• Maybe this person is carrying unforgiveness.
• Maybe they’re living in the lie that God has abandoned them.
• Maybe they need to first hear the truth about the Father.

Effective prayer begins with the question: “Holy Spirit, what are You showing here?”

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” – John 16:13

The Holy Spirit leads us into truth. He shows us what we cannot see for ourselves.

• Prayer without listening can become nothing more than a religious monologue.
• The Son does not merely speak with authority. The Son listens to the Father.
• First I listen, then I speak. First I discern, then I declare.
• Not every situation needs our first reaction. Sometimes it needs God’s discernment first.

Jesus’ disciples had seen many things. They had seen miracles, healings, the multiplication of bread, demons being cast out. And yet they said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” They saw that Jesus’ public power flowed out of a hidden relationship with the Father.

Jesus’ public power flowed out of a hidden relationship with the Father

If effective prayer begins with listening, then a question naturally follows: How do we live in such a way that we recognize God’s voice? Jesus’ answer is simple — we must abide! It’s not enough to pray only in a crisis. It’s not enough to come to God only when something is on fire. Jesus invites us into a life of constant connection with Him.

3. Prayer That Works Flows Out of Abiding in Christ

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” – John 15:1-8

We most often quote: “Ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you,” but Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you…”

Prayer that works is born out of a life that is connected to Jesus.

The Image of the Branch

A branch doesn’t produce fruit by straining. It doesn’t wake up in the morning and say, “I have to try harder. I have to push myself more. I have to squeeze out these grapes.” The branch bears fruit because it abides in the vine. The fruit is the result of the connection. It’s the same with prayer. Christians sometimes try to do it on their own:

• “I have to pray harder.”
• “I have to shout louder.”
• “I have to press on longer.”
• “I have to use better words.”
• “I have to find a better technique.”

And Jesus says: “Abide in Me.”

• It’s not about passivity. It’s about the source.
• If I don’t abide in Christ, my prayer may be nothing more than a reaction to fear.
• If I abide in Christ, my prayer begins to flow out of His life.

Picture a phone with no signal. You can have the best model, the most expensive plan, the newest system, but if there’s no connection, you won’t get through. In the same way, you can know many verses, have received a lot of teaching, know the words “in the name of Jesus,” but if you’re not living with God, your heart may be disconnected from the source of life. The point is that a life of prayer needs a connection.

Summary:

• Prayer is not a detached activity. It is the fruit of abiding.
• When I abide in Christ, my desires begin to align with His desires.
• God does not merely want to answer our requests. He first wants to shape our hearts.
• The fruit of prayer doesn’t grow out of strain, but out of connection.

If prayer flows out of abiding, the next question is: “What happens to our heart when we abide close to God?” God starts showing us the things that block His flow.

4. The Heart Can Block the Flow of Our Prayer

4.1. Unforgiveness

“Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” – Mark 11:22-25

Jesus talks about faith, about the mountain, about prayer… and right afterward He says, “And whenever you stand praying… forgive.” You can try to move the mountain in front of you while carrying a stone inside your heart at the same time. Unforgiveness does not make God stop being good. Unforgiveness hardens our heart. It feeds pain, judgment, the desire for revenge, and bondage. A person may say, “Mountain, move!” while inwardly holding onto another mountain:

• “I won’t forgive.”
• “I won’t let it go.”
• “Let them pay for it.”
• “Let them suffer.”
• “I’m the one who’s right.”
• “I’ll carry this.”

A Practical Example:

Someone prays for peace, but replays the hurt in their mind every single day. They pray, “God, give me peace,” and then spend the whole day thinking, “How could he do that?”, “How could she do that?” Peace will not settle in a heart that feeds on revenge every day.

Forgiveness does not mean the hurt was small. Forgiveness does not mean we pretend nothing happened. Forgiveness does not mean we immediately rebuild trust.

Forgiveness means giving up my right to revenge and handing the matter over to God!

Unforgiveness tries to move the mountain in front of it, but doesn’t want to move the stone lodged in its own heart. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the wrong. Forgiveness frees my heart from the prison of the offense. Sometimes prayer that works begins not with the words, “Mountain, move,” but with the words, “Father, I forgive.”

4.2. Spiritual Pride

The second thing that can destroy a life of prayer is pride.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 18:10-14

The Pharisee really was praying. But Jesus says that he was actually praying “with himself.” Why? Because his prayer was not a meeting with God. It was a presentation about his own spirituality. He didn’t come to meet God. He came to present himself before God:

• “Thank You that I’m not like other people.”
• “I fast.”
• “I give.”
• “I’m better.”

This is prayer that uses God as a backdrop for its own pride.

A Practical Example:

You can pray, “Lord, please help these people, because they don’t understand anything,” while the heart underneath is saying, “I understand better,” “I’m more spiritual,” or “I have greater revelation.” We need to be careful, because after teaching on authority it’s possible to swing to an extreme and think:

• “I have authority.”
• “I know more.”
• “I’m the one who commands.”
• “I’m the spiritual one.”

Biblical authority is never separated from humility.

Authority without humility becomes spiritual arrogance. True faith does not exalt man. True faith exalts Jesus. The Pharisee used prayer to display his own superiority. The tax collector used prayer to meet with God and His mercy. It’s not about being confident in yourself. It’s about being confident in Jesus.

4.3. Wrong Motives

The third thing that can block prayer is wrong motives.

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” – James 4:1-3

Some prayers are not ineffective because God doesn’t hear. They are ineffective because they are tainted by a wrong motive:

• You can ask for a good thing out of a bad heart.
• You can pray for success, but the motive is pride.
• You can pray for money, but the motive is greed.
• You can pray for ministry, but the motive is a need for recognition.
• You can pray for another person to change, but the motive is control.
• You can pray for a breakthrough, but the motive is comparing yourself with others.

Practical Examples:

Someone says, “God, bless my company.” That can be a beautiful prayer. But it can also be a prayer from a heart that says, “I want to show everyone that I’m better.”

Someone says, “God, give me a bigger ministry.” That can be a desire for the Kingdom. But it can also hide a need that says, “I want people to admire me.”

Someone says, “God, change my husband / wife / child / leader.” That can be a prayer of love. But it can also be a prayer of control: “Change them so things go my way.”

That’s why it’s worth asking, “Lord, not just what do I want, but why do I want it?”

God is not obligated to answer prayers that exist to feed our “ego.” Not every prayer for blessing flows out of a pure heart. A mature prayer doesn’t only ask, “Lord, can You give me this?” but also, “Lord, why do I want this?”

When God touches our heart, He doesn’t do it to weaken us. He does it to strengthen us. A heart cleansed of unforgiveness, pride, and wrong motives is more capable of faith — and faith needs perseverance.

5. Prayer That Works Needs Perseverance

The fact that I have received something by faith doesn’t always mean I immediately see the full change. Between prayer and a visible answer, there is often a space where faith is tested (a seed – and time).

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, “Get justice for me from my adversary.” And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”‘ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?'” – Luke 18:1-8

Some people think Jesus is comparing God to the unjust judge. But this is not a comparison. It’s a contrast:

• The judge was unwilling. God is not unwilling.
• The widow had no influence or standing. We are children of God.
• She was coming to a stranger. We come to our Father.

But the main lesson is this: Do not lose heart. Perseverance does not mean I’m trying to change an unwilling God. Perseverance means I’m not letting the circumstances take away my faith.

“And he said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.'” – Daniel 10:12-13

Daniel was heard on the very first day. But the answer manifested later:

• A delay in the manifestation does not always mean God has refused.
• We don’t understand everything.
• We don’t see the whole spiritual world.
• We don’t see all the processes. But we are called to persevere.

A Practical Example:

Someone prays for a child who has walked away from God. On the first day they pray with faith. On the second day too. But weeks pass and nothing changes. The child still won’t talk, is still hard-hearted, still going the wrong way. And then temptation comes:

• “This isn’t working.”
• “God isn’t listening.”
• “There’s no point.”
• “Maybe it’s already too late.”

But perseverance says, “I don’t yet see the full answer, but I’m not handing this person over to darkness. I’m still standing in faith. I’m still blessing. I’m still asking for workers to cross their path. I still believe that God is working more deeply than I can see.”

Not every answer manifests immediately, but faith does not die in the space between prayer and manifestation. Perseverance is a faith that doesn’t change its confession just because the circumstances haven’t changed yet. Daniel was heard on the first day, but he didn’t see the answer on the first day. A delay in the manifestation does not always mean God has refused.

When we begin to learn perseverance, God enlarges our heart. At first we pray mostly about ourselves:

• “God, help me.”
• “God, heal me.”
• “God, provide for me.”
• “God, solve my problem.”

And that’s not wrong. God is a Father. We can come to Him with our needs. But mature prayer doesn’t stop at just me. Mature prayer starts to embrace other people — the church, the city, the nations, the lost, the wounded, leaders, families, and even enemies.

6. Mature Prayer Reaches Beyond Me

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Tim 2:1-4

Paul says: first of all. He doesn’t say, “At the end, if there’s time left…” And he lists supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings. For whom?

• For all people.
• For those we like and for those who irritate us.
• For believers and unbelievers.
• For our family and for our city.
• For ordinary people and for those in authority.

Why? Because God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Practical Questions:

• When was the last time you prayed for your city?

Not just complained about the city. Not just said that people are hard-hearted. Not just commented on what’s wrong. But prayed, “Lord, bring salvation to this city. Open people’s hearts. Send workers. Give the Church courage. Break spiritual apathy. Show people Jesus.”

• When was the last time you prayed for the people who hurt you?

Not “Lord, show them that I was right,” but “Lord, bless them. Touch their heart. Free them from darkness. Give them the knowledge of the truth.”

• When was the last time you prayed for the church not out of criticism, but out of love?

Not “Lord, why aren’t they doing this?” but “Lord, build us up. Purify us. Lead us. Set us on fire. Give us unity, wisdom, love, and courage.”

In the book of Acts, when the church was threatened, the believers did not pray mainly for comfort. They did not pray, “Lord, make sure no one bothers us.” They prayed for courage.

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” – Acts 4:29-31

They didn’t ask for an absence of problems. They asked for courage in the midst of problems.

Mature prayer reaches beyond my own needs. An intercessor is someone who lets God place on their heart matters that are bigger than their own comfort. If I only ever pray about myself, my prayer may be sincere, but it’s still immature. A church that stops praying for the lost begins to live only for itself.

When we start praying more broadly — for people, for the church, for the city, for hard situations — we quickly discover one thing. We don’t always know how to pray. And that is a very important discovery. It’s not a failure to admit, “Lord, I don’t know how to pray.” The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us exactly at this point.

7. The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray Effectively

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” – Romans 8:26-27

“For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought.” So sometimes:

• we don’t know how.
• Sometimes we don’t see the whole picture.
• Sometimes we know only a fragment.
• Sometimes we feel a weight but can’t name it.
• Sometimes we see the symptoms but don’t know the root.

But then the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. The Holy Spirit doesn’t only help the strong. He supports us in our weakness.

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” – Jude 1:20-21

Praying in the Holy Spirit builds up our inner man. This is not just an extra add-on. It is God’s help.

Sometimes, instead of immediately rattling off every familiar phrase, it’s worth pausing and saying, “Holy Spirit, lead me. Show me how to pray. Show me what matters. Show me whether I should ask, declare, be silent, forgive, worship, give thanks, or simply abide.” You can practice:

• a moment of silence before prayer,
• praying in tongues, if that’s something you practice,
• writing down thoughts that come to you,
• testing everything against the Word,
• asking, “Does this lead to Jesus, to peace, to truth, and to love?”,
• obeying what the Spirit shows you.

Many people pray as though prayer were a list of items handed to God. And sometimes the most important moment of prayer begins when you stop talking and start listening. Not every silence is empty. Sometimes silence is a place where the Holy Spirit is putting the heart in order.

When I don’t know how to pray, I’m not helpless — I have a Helper. The Holy Spirit is not an add-on to prayer. He is the One who teaches us to pray according to the Father’s heart. Effective prayer is not just prayer out of my own understanding. It is prayer in partnership with the Holy Spirit. Not every silence in prayer is emptiness. Sometimes silence is a place of guidance.

If the Holy Spirit is leading our prayer, He will also lead us into unity. Because the Holy Spirit doesn’t build chaos. He doesn’t build rivalry. He doesn’t build private ambitions.

The Holy Spirit leads the Body of Christ into agreement with Jesus and with one another.

8. The Prayer of Agreement Has Power

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:19-20

But notice the word: agree. It’s not enough for two people to be in the same room. Agreement runs deeper — it’s a shared alignment of hearts under God’s will. You can be close physically while being far apart spiritually. You can be at the same prayer meeting while carrying resentment, rivalry, distrust, or judgment in your heart.

Practical Examples:

A husband and wife pray for their family, but accuse each other every day. Their mouths say, “Lord, bless our home,” but their hearts are in conflict. Leaders pray for the church, but don’t trust one another, compete with one another, compare themselves, and defend their positions. A community prays for revival, but its people won’t forgive one another. That doesn’t mean God isn’t listening. But it does mean that our hearts are not standing in agreement.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing — life forevermore.” – Psalm 133:1-3

Where there is unity, there is room for blessing. Not a pretended unity. Not a unity created by sweeping problems under the rug. Not a unity built through control. But a unity in truth, love, and humility.

Not every shared prayer is a prayer of agreement. Agreement isn’t just saying the same words — it’s standing in the same spirit, the same faith, and the same direction. God does not build a breakthrough on the chaos of hearts that are pulling in different directions. Unity does not mean that everyone pretends there are no problems. Unity means that everyone submits to Jesus.

If we listen to the Father, abide in Christ, cleanse our hearts, believe with perseverance, pray for others, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and stand in agreement — there comes a moment when prayer must turn into obedience. Because prayer that works doesn’t end with the words alone. Sometimes the most important part begins after the “amen.”

9. Prayer Does Not Replace Obedience

“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.'” – Exodus 14:15-16

Israel is standing before the Red Sea. Behind them, Egypt. Ahead of them, water. An impossible situation. Moses cries out to God, and God says something surprising: “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”

That doesn’t mean the prayer was wrong. It means the moment for action had come. There are moments when you need to cry out. There are moments when you need to wait. But there are also moments when God says, “Move.”

Practical Examples

• You pray for reconciliation, but you won’t make the phone call.
• You pray for a job, but you don’t send out your resume.
• You pray for health, but you ignore basic responsibility for your body.
• You pray for spiritual growth, but you never open the Word.
• You pray for the church, but you don’t want to serve.
• You pray for freedom from sin, but you don’t cut off the source of temptation.
• You pray for a breakthrough in a relationship, but you won’t speak the truth in love.

Sometimes continuing to pray becomes a hidden way of avoiding obedience.

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” – James 2:17

Faith acts. It’s not about salvation by works. It’s about the fact that living faith bears fruit. If I truly believe God is leading me, I’ll take a step. If I truly believe God gives wisdom, I’ll apply it. If I truly believe God is telling me to forgive, I’ll forgive. If I truly believe God is sending me to someone, I’ll go.

Prayer that works doesn’t end at “amen.” It often begins after “amen.” Sometimes God doesn’t give another revelation because He’s waiting for obedience to the previous one. Don’t ask God to bless a road you’re not willing to walk on. There are moments when continuing to pray isn’t spirituality — it’s stalling on obedience.

Jesus Often Acted Concretely After Prayer

Jesus did not separate prayer from action. He prayed in the wilderness, and then went out to preach. He prayed, and then chose His disciples. He gave thanks to the Father, and then multiplied the bread. He looked to the Father, and then healed. In Gethsemane He prayed in surrender, and then went to the cross. Jesus’ prayer was not an escape from His mission. It was the source of His mission.

“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.” – Luke 6:12-13

A whole night of prayer. And then a concrete decision. This shows us a beautiful pattern. Prayer leads to discernment. Discernment leads to a decision. A decision leads to action.

Summary

In part one we said:

• Don’t pray like an orphan.
• Don’t try to convince a reluctant God.
• Come to the Father with confidence.
• Use your authority in the name of Jesus.
• Speak in agreement with the Word.
• Don’t beg for what God has already revealed and given in Christ.

Today we went further. Because prayer that works is not just the right words. It’s a life of prayer. Effective prayer:

• Begins with listening to the Father.
• Flows out of abiding in Christ.
• Requires a heart free from unforgiveness, pride, and wrong motives.
• Needs perseverance when the answer doesn’t manifest immediately.
• Reaches beyond my own needs and becomes intercession for others.
• Cooperates with the Holy Spirit.
• Grows in unity and the prayer of agreement.
• Leads to concrete obedience.

Prayer that works isn’t just prayer with authority. It’s the prayer of someone who lives close to the Father.

Today God isn’t only inviting us to say better words in prayer. He’s inviting us into a deeper life of prayer.

• Into a life in which we listen to the Father.
• Into a life in which we abide in Christ.
• Into a life in which we forgive.
• Into a life in which we purify our motives.
• Into a life in which we don’t lose heart when we don’t see results right away.
• Into a life in which we pray not only for ourselves, but intercede for others.
• Into a life in which the Holy Spirit leads our prayers.
• Into a life in which we stand in agreement.
• Into a life in which, after prayer, we take a step of obedience.

Because prayer is not an add-on to life with God.

Summary

• The Son does not merely speak with authority. The Son listens to the Father.
• Prayer is not a detached activity. It is the fruit of abiding.
• Unforgiveness keeps the heart imprisoned, even when the lips are praying.
• Authority without humility becomes spiritual arrogance.
• Perseverance doesn’t change God. Perseverance protects my faith.
• Mature prayer reaches beyond my own needs.
• When I don’t know how to pray, I have a Helper — the Holy Spirit.
• Not every shared prayer is a prayer of agreement.
• Prayer that works doesn’t end at “amen.” It often begins after “amen.”
• Prayer that works is the prayer of someone who lives close to the Father.

Prayer

Father, we thank You for teaching us that prayer is not a religious activity, but a life with You. Thank You that through Jesus we have access to You. Thank You that we are not orphans. Thank You that we can come to You with confidence. Holy Spirit, teach us not only to speak, but also to listen. Teach us to recognize the Father’s heart. Teach us to abide in Christ. Teach us to pray in agreement with the Word and in agreement with Your leading.

Show us the places where our heart needs cleansing. Show us the unforgiveness we need to release. Show us the pride we need to lay down. Show us the wrong motives we need to purify.

Give us perseverance when we don’t see the answer right away. Give us the heart of intercessors, which reaches beyond our own needs. Give us unity in prayer as a Church. Give us the courage to take a step of obedience after we pray.

May our prayer not be words alone. May it be the fruit of a life lived close to You.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.