7 STEPS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR PRAYERS

Once a month, my husband, Jack, drives me to a women’s fellowship meeting, located four miles north of our home.  The shortest, most direct route along Pantano Parkway to Tanque Verde Road is great with one exception: there’s no left hand turn lane into the church parking lot, requiring us to go to the next crossover and double back.

Recently, three months of road work made it difficult to turn anywhere on the road, but my maps app revealed an alternate route. We could drive three miles east, head north, then circle back on Tanque Verde, putting us in line to make a right turn into the parking lot.

Which route should we take?

This week, forgetting that roadwork was completed, I reminded Jack, “Take the Houghton route.” When we turned west on Tanque Verde, I retracted. “I guess we don’t have to go this way anymore. It is longer.” But we both agreed. We didn’t have to do the double-back, and the Houghton Road route avoids what we acerbically call “Pothole Parkway.”

“Besides,” I mused, “I like the scenery of the Houghton route.” It was true. The less travelled, open desert drive gave a full view of three mountain ranges that surround northeast Tucson.

Express lane prayer

The direct route approach sounds like the expectations behind many of my prayer requests. I tell God my problem and then request what I see as the most direct solution to what I think I need. Sometimes I don’t even state the problem—doesn’t He know? And then, when I encounter obstacles and road closures, I wonder if God heard my prayer.  

The snag in my prayer request was not God’s ability or willingness to provide; the problem was that I asked for something that was—to be blunt—not a bright idea.

How should we approach God with prayer requests?

James 5:16 tells me that “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” How can I have a more effective prayer life where I can see the results of what I ask God for?

I’m learning to plan a more scenic route to my prayer life. Instead of shooting up quick arrow prayers that sound more like demands than requests, I’m learning to pause and work with the Lord in strategizing a solution. If I’m going to work effectively with Him, I need to learn how He thinks, how He operates, and what’s important to Him. I can do that by holding an extending “scenic route” conversation with Him when I make my request.

7 steps toward effective prayer

Here’s the 7 steps I’m learning to take when I pray. Maybe this will work for you too.

1. Show gratitude. “I’m glad You can do anything, Lord. Thank you for your power and love for me.” Philippians 4:6 encourages us to lace every petition with thanksgiving. For many years, I kept a separate list of praise points from my list of requests. I thanked God for prayers He had already answered. Then I started to find ways to thank Him for what He was going to do in regards to my specific request. This has revolutionized my prayer life, for when I thank God before He does anything, I find that peace the “transcends all understanding (Phil 4:7).”
2. Describe the problem. “Lord, here’s what I’m facing.” Describing the problem out loud helps us process the key issues and equips us to fine tune our request.
3. Ask for wisdom. “What’s Your perspective on what I’m facing?” Then quietly sit and listen to the ideas the Holy Spirit brings to mind. Tell the Lord, “Here’s how I’d like to see this resolved, but more than anything, I want to do things Your way. How would You like to solve this?” Another time to pause and listen.
4. Affirm your trust. “I know You know what’s best.” In other words, “Thy will be done.” Father Tim in the Jan Karon’s Mitford series was right. That’s “the prayer that never fails.”
5. Ask for His availability. “While I journey toward the solution, will You go with me and tell me more about You?” That was Moses’ approach as he prepared to lead the people of Israel forward from Mt. Sinai (Exodus 33:12-17). Yes, God will always go with you, but He likes to be asked.
6. Focus on God at work. “Give me a story to tell about Your goodness, Lord.” Take your eyes off what you want and ask God to show you what He is doing.
7. Agree to do your part. “What do You want me to do, Lord?” We often become dismayed if God is slow or invisible in His work to fulfill our request, yet, like any covenant, it’s a two-way street. Let the Lord know you are willing to do what He asks of you in regard to your request.Then keep your commitment and do it.

God’s way is the better idea

As I discovered in my journey along Houghton Road, I suspect you’ll discover that God’s way was the better idea, It may take longer. It may not seem like the quick “fix-it” solution or “same day delivery” you’d prefer. But in the long run, God’s way is the easier option—and the view of His magnificent goodness will show you that He has so much more to offer you than what you initially thought possible.

Other posts on prayer:

Persistent Prayer: Why You Need to Keep on Praying

How You Can Pray Without Ceasing

Impossible Prayer: Praying for What Only God Can Give