What is "effective" prayer?

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalms 141:2

In upcoming posts we will begin to specifically discuss the ingredients of effective prayer – pleasing incense that is set before God in His throne room. Today let's consider what we mean by ‘effective.’

In the simplest terms, I believe that prayers which are answered according to what we ask are 'effective prayers'. However, this definition only fits into another, much bigger, which really determines what effective prayer is. In prayer we partner with God to bring about His will and purpose in our lives, the lives of others, and on the earth - as it is heaven. This declaration is right at the start of the first prayer Jesus taught His disciples (See Luke 11:2). An effective prayer makes request for, and obtains, what God is pleased to grant.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16, KJV

Let’s look at two words in that text using Strong's lexicon:

1. effectual fervent - energeō
en-erg-eh'-o
From G1756; to be active, efficient: - do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).

2. avails - ischuō
is-khoo'-o
From G2479; to have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively): - be able, avail, can do ([-not]), could, be good, might, prevail, be of strength, be whole, much work.

With a deeper understanding of the meaning of these two words, we can paraphrase James 5:16 something like this: An active, efficient prayer (of a righteous man) that has manifest results, exercises much force.

[The Amplified Bible puts it like this: The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].]

James went on to give us an example of this type of prayer in operation:

Elias (Elijah) was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
James 5:17-18

Can you see what we mean by "exercises much force"? Elijah’s prayer exercised the force that brought about those results (See 1 Kings 17 and 18). It had nothing to do with the man Elijah’s own capabilities. Effective prayer will access the surpassing power of God to bring it from the spiritual realm into the natural, earth realm, and accomplish what pleases Him.



[This is the fourth post in a series on the subject of prayer. Last week we considered why "prayer" is even important. These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. I hope to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively, in bite-size blog posts which you can easily follow.]