7 Essential Keys to Effective Prayer

What is prayer? Often we simplify prayer to simply being our conversation with God. That’s true, but prayer is so much more than simply conversing with God. It’s more than developing a relationship with God. It’s more than the results we enter into prayer expecting.

What are the keys to effective prayer? How can you pray more effective prayers?

I read this quote from John Bunyan in my daily devotional and thought it captured the essence of prayer so well.

“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to the Word of God, for the good of the Church, with submission in faith to the will of God.” ~John Bunyan

The core of this statement says prayer is our conversation with God for the purposes of achieving the will of God. Yet, there’s so much more here to unpack.

If you want to take your prayer life to the next level and experience the full power of this conversation with God, check that you have these 7 essential keys to effective prayer.

7 Essential Keys to Effective Prayer

1) Prayer is sincere

Set aside any false front, any pretense of who you think you should be, and simply present your true and sincere self to God in prayer. You don’t need to have fancy words or all the answers. You don’t need to pretend to be more than who you are in this moment. Simply open your heart to God and be honest and sincere, even if that means sharing your doubts and disbeliefs, your disappointments and discouragements, your struggles and grief.

2) Prayer is sensible

Prayer is not asking God for every whim and fantasy. Our prayers and petitions should be aligned with God’s will for our lives and in measure with what we need.

3) Prayer is the affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ

Prayer is the development of our relationship with God, sharing our lives with the One who created us. It’s the conversation with our Father, words spoken with deepest love and affection, sharing the inmost feelings – joy and sadness alike – with the one who loves us most.

4) Effective prayers are prayed through the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the indwelling of God within each of us. The Holy Spirit is our source of strength and inner guidance. He knows our prayers and even prays on our behalf when we cannot summon the words on our own. He equips and enables us to step forward in faith. So, we lean on the Holy Spirit in our prayers, calling upon his strength and assistance to find the right words, to pray the right prayers, and to bring forth the power of God in this world.

5) Prayer should be for such things as God has promised, according to his Word (the Bible)

Our prayers should always be in line with the Word of God. What are the promises God gives us in the Bible? What are the gifts and desires he has for our lives? Is what you’re praying aligned with God’s Word?

6) Prayer should not be selfish but should always be focused on the good of the Church and others

The essence of prayer is to pray for God’s will to be done here on earth – in our lives and in the lives of others around us. We need to pray through the lens of God’s will, which may run counter to our selfish human desires.

7) Prayer should be done in faith and with submission to the will of God

Prayer isn’t like taking a wish list to Santa and hoping to get all your desires answered. It’s more about entering into a relationship with God, such that your heart is brought into alignment with his and you allow God to do his will through you. It’s about building your faith in God and partnering to release his power in the world. It’s less about the words you say and more about developing a receptive heart, willing to submit to God’s plans for your life.

Are You Praying Effective Prayers?

So, are you praying effectively today? In which area do you need to focus for more powerful and effective prayers?

Check your own prayers against these 7 keys to effective prayer. What area do you need to take to God and ask his help to pray more effectively?

I love this other quote from John Bunyon:

“Prayer brings those who have the spirit of supplication into a wonderful communion and fellowship with God; therefore, God has ordained prayer as a means for us to grow in a personal relationship with him.” ~John Bunyon

Let’s enter into prayer with an open and humble heart, seeking communion and fellowship with God, asking only for more of God here on earth and more of God’s will in our own lives.