The Power of Prevailing Prayer: 7 Principles that Will Get God’s Attention

Here’s how to enjoy a stronger, more powerful prayer life.

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Years ago while pastoring a spiritual church, there were several ladies in the ministry that considered themselves to be prayer warriors. They would convince others in the ministry that they had “special gifts” and means with God to get their prayers answered. They often presented prayer a “spooky experience” as opposed to enlightening and a conduit of revelation.

I often found this problematic and would remind them that the ability to petition, intercede, lay before the presence of God, or whatever charismatic term we choose to invoke is a privilege vouchsafed to every believer. All believers have the intrinsic and inherent capacity to boldly approach the throne of grace where Christ is seated at the right hand of the father making intercession for us. He is the mediator between God and man.

While I am very much an advocate for those who are fervent in prayer, at times it leads to a childish sect in ministry of persons who are ill-prepared to pray for themselves. The day will come when you cannot call for assistance or back-up—you will have to go for yourself. I have gathered a few nuggets from my teachings over the years which focus on Christ as the only one between God and man which causes our prayer to he heard and thereby get God’s attention.

1. The psyche or soul of prayer is Christ-consciousness. The born again believer is wholly dependent on Christ’s earnest mediation for us before the throne of God. (Christ our Mediator)

2). The centering of prayer is acknowledging that prayer emanates not from petitioning, supplication, want or wishes. Prayer emanates from the holistic ideology that Jehovah is Creator and worthy of worship. The worship of Jehovah is commanded within the Canon of divine scripture. Dr. William H. Murphy has stated for decades that “we can get more out of God by worshipping him than begging him.” (Christ our Creator)

3. Prayer is transformative. We beseech God’s throne not only for daily bread or relief of daily burdens. We beseech God for the transformation of self. Herein lies the power intercession or self-surrender or abandonment as spiritual instrument. An aspect of prayer is that we take upon the divine nature or divine yoke and learn of Christ. One of the traditional monastic beliefs is that more is wrought in prayer than activity. (Christ our Exemplar)

4. Prayer is not legalistic or pharisaic. It is neither purely habitual or duty bound. It is oxygen for the believer. If prayer is freshly and laborious (I speak not of wrestling in prayer) then the mode, spirit, and tenor of it is wrong. Prefer not a prayer technique, but rather be open to how the spirit chooses you as an instrument of prayer. This takes time and seasons but it leads to spiritual maturation. (Christ our All)

5. I often hear some speak of a prayer language. Depending upon your tradition, it might imply speaking in tongues, tongues of praise, heavenly language or your native tongue. Each believer regardless of tradition should employ a prayer cry. Employing the acknowledging the limitation of humanity that the petitioner may receive God’s strength made perfect. I’ve heard this scripture roar in my spirit all day today “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:6) (Christ our Deliverer)

6. To be a Christian without prayer means more than being powerless. It means to be void of spiritual life. Prayer ostentatiously enjoins us to the divine life where salt never loses its savor and subsequently prayers arise to heaven as incense, a sweet smelling savor. (Christ our Source)

7. Prayer does not merely acknowledge the presence of good. It acknowledges the presence of God. It is in the prologue of the model prayer where Jesus’s disciples implored him to teach them to pray as John’s disciples. It is after that manner he taught them to pray “Our Father.” Furthermore, what can be extrapolated through God acknowledgment is that he is “Our” Father. Acknowledgment of God is inextricably correlated with the acknowledgement of each other. We are one with the father and one with one another. Hence, the Chronicler notes the heavenly plea “If MY people.” (Christ our Elder Brother)
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