Learning To View Prayer From God’s Perspective

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayer recently, even before watching “The War Room”. However, watching the movie has cemented the need for more powerful prayer in my life. I’ve listened to many devotions and sermons on the subject. Hat tip to Dr. Tony Evans – he delivers powerful messages from God on the subject of prayer and living the Christian life.

Dr. Gregory Frizzell asked God “how I could ever become an effective minister” and he received a powerful response: “If you will spend much time with me in close relationship and prayer, you will never lack for my mighty presence and miraculous power.” God used John 15:5 and 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 to drive this truth deep into his heart.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)

According to Ephesians 4:11-12, the leaders of the church are to equip the saints (all of Christ’s people) for ministry. The leaders are not the primary ministers. Rather, the ministers are the people of God, who have been drafted into God’s ministry, and who are to be equipped for their ministry by the leaders. God desires that we pursue a relationship with Him every day, in all aspects of life. When we try to live daily life for the sake of His glory, He deems it sacred.

The Biblical Path to Powerful Daily Prayer

Significant daily prayer is the absolute key for building a dynamic, intimate personal relationship with God.
Prayer is not primarily about what we can get out of God, but what He purposes to do in and through us for His pleasure.
Above everything else, God desires a close personal relationship with each of His children. Through prayer, God purposes to establish and deepen your relationship with Him.
No one’s relationship with Christ will ever rise above the level of his or her praying.
If your prayer life is inconsistent and weak, so will be your relationship with God!
It is only through the constant cleansing and filling of God’s Spirit that our prayers have mountain-moving power.
Prayer is the primary way we put on the whole armor of God. The more consistently one prays, the greater will be his ability to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
When your prayers become biblical and specific, they take on far greater power.
When you learn to walk in powerful daily prayer, God will transform your entire life.
Powerful prayer is God’s will for every believer! You can develop a dynamic prayer life!

We will never fully understand prayer until we grasp God’s primary purposes for prayer

Far more than just meeting needs, prayer is God’s primary means of our coming to know Him, worship Him and experience transformation through the indwelling Christ.
Prayer is not primarily about what we can get out of God, but what He purposes to do in and through us for His own pleasure.
Prayer is the major way we learn to communicate with God and hear His voice.
Through prayer, we abide in Him and allow Him to live through us.
Prayer is how Christ purifies His Bride and builds His Kingdom.
The great secret of prayer is to align ourselves to God’s purposes rather than seeking to align Him to ours.

Until we are totally convinced of the importance of a lifestyle of prayer, we are not likely to take steps to achieve one.

What God Wants You to Gain Through Effective Prayer

Carefully consider Eight God-ordained Results of a powerful prayer life.

Your relationship with Him will become much more real and personal. (Matthew 22:37, John 17:3). Knowledge, here as so often in Scripture, means more than mere intellectual grasp; it involves affection and commitment as well.
You will experience ever-deepening holiness and life transforming discipleship (Hebrews 12:14) The journey into holiness is thus a journey of our affections. It is our journey into desiring God. Through this journey we learn to love as God loves and to desire what is holy. The more we abide in and with a holy God the more we are transformed into the likeness of God. Bottom line: holiness is a love relationship. It is about having a heart on fire with godly love.
Your ability to clearly hear God’s voice will rise dramatically (James 1:5; Jeremiah 29:13; Psalm 46:10). It’s in stillness, not busyness, that we tune our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. When you are seeking the Lord, He will put His wants or desires into your heart. He will make His desires become your desires.
The spiritual power of your life and ministry will increase greatly (John 14:12-14; Acts 1:8; I Kings 17:2,5). In order to be effective in our prayers, we must be open to God’s will and direction for our lives as is revealed through His Word.
You will experience a dramatic increase in answered prayer (John 15:7). Hearing and knowing God’s Word and then going and doing according to His Word will result in many answers to our prayers.
You will experience far greater power to withstand trials, temptations, and spiritual attacks (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). “For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)
As you learn to effectively pray for the lost, you will see many people saved. Jesus said, “All things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). All things certainly include the salvation of souls. If you can believe God for someone‟s salvation, you shall have it.
You will discover how to pray effectively for revival and spiritual awakening in your church, city, and nation (Ezekiel 22:30; 2 Corinthians 7:10; ). Ask God to send deep conviction of sin, spiritual brokenness, a holy fear of God and genuine repentance among His people. There will be no revival without these elements and only God can produce them in His people. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)

See through Scripture what God declares will be the result of a powerful prayer life.

Prayer For Spiritual Fruitfulness

Heavenly Father, how I praise and thank You that by grace through faith I am Your child. Thank You that I have been positioned in Christ, and placed in union with Him, Who is the true and living Vine.

Thank You that I have been covered in His righteousness and that Your desire for me is that I am fully conformed into the very image and likeness of Your dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ- as I abide in Him, and He in me.. so that His very character and nature, may be gradually formed in me.

Help me I pray to be spiritually fruitful and to I abide in Jesus day by day.. and He in me. Thank You that as the heavenly Gardener You are graciously pruning me through the truth of Your word and shaping me into the person You would have me be.

Cut away anything in my life that hinders my spiritual growth, and help me to learn the lessons that You would teach me, so that I may grow into the likeness of the Lord Jesus and bear much fruit to Your praise and glory

Amen

Sources:

Seeking Passionate Prayer in Spiritual Warfare