1. Prayer Creating an Effective Prayer Life
The Keys
Opening the truths in God's word
Prayer Creating an Effective Prayer Life
There is probably nothing more important in the life of a Christian than a solid foundation in prayer. This is where we communicate with God, which allows Him in return, to communicate with us. It places our flesh under submission which in turn strengthens our spirit.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end,
that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;.
Luke 18:1
1/21/12

2. Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer is a Necessity
Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5:17
This does not mean do nothing but pray 24 hours a day. It means do not let life get in the way of prayer.

3. But when ye pray... Matthew 6:7
Prayer is a Necessity
But when ye pray...
Matthew 6:7
There is no if to prayer.

4. Prayer is a Necessity
…There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luke 18:2-5
The parable of the unjust judge

5. Prayer is a Necessity
…Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:6-8
The parable of the unjust judge

6. seven days without prayer makes one weak
Prayer is a Necessity
seven days without prayer makes one weak
There is a common saying that 'seven days without prayer makes one weak'. This is so true. From marriages to corporations, good communication is a requirement for success. It only makes sense that the less communication that we have with God, the farther away from Him we will be.
Author Unknown

7. Prayer is a Necessity
After Jesus and the disciples had gone back home and were alone, they asked him, "Why couldn't we force out that demon?“ Jesus answered, "Only prayer can force out that kind of demon."
Mark 9:28-29
(CEV)
Mark 9:14-29 is the story of a demon possessed man that the disciples were unable to help. Jesus cast the demon out. When the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t do it themselves, Jesus implied that their prayer life was too weak. Some spiritual things can only be accomplished through a strong prayer life.

8. Prayer is a Necessity
Prayer acts as both a thermometer and a barometer in measuring the spiritual condition of the church. It's prayer defines how hot or cold she is and whether showers of blessings are in the forecast, or seasons of drought.
M.G. Pearce

9. Preparing for a Successful Prayer Life
Find a 'prayer closet'
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:6
Prayer is not about showing off to people that you are praying. It’s about getting alone with God. Look for somewhere that is quiet, solitary, etc. where you can focus on your prayer with minimal distractions.

10. Preparing for a Successful Prayer Life
Prepare for your prayer time
Take the phone off of the hook, get away from everyone, have a prayer list, your Bible, maps, etc. This helps you pray systematically and intelligently.

11. Prayer Chart Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Praise
Thanksgiving
Repentance
Myself
Spouse
Family
Others
Church
Pastor
Leadership
Here is an example of a prayer chart that can help you pray systematically. Too often people find themselves kneeling before God with nothing to say. Put your thoughts to paper to remind yourself once you are in prayer. Soon you will find that you can’t fit it all in.

12. Preparing for a Successful Prayer Life
Make time to pray
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,
and will look up.
Psalm 5:3
If you just wait until you have time, you will not pray. You must decide when the best time is for you to pray, and then do it.

13. Preparing for a Successful Prayer Life
Find a prayer partner
Find someone with a mutual desire and build off of one another
As in just about any self improvement effort, a partner is one of the best methods to inspire and hold each other accountable.

14. Preparing for a Successful Prayer Life
Be consistent
A haphazard prayer life is of little value

15. How to Pray
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13
Matthew 6:9-13 is what is commonly known as ‘The Lords Prayer’. Jesus isn’t telling us what to pray, he is showing us how to pray. If you break this prayer apart into sections, you will find what many refer to as the ‘prayer sandwich’.

16. How to Pray
Praise (Bread)
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13
Jesus starts with praise…

17. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
How to Pray
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psalm 22:3
Praise (Bread)
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Psalm 63:3
To praise is to lift someone up, exalt, extol, glorify, give thanks, etc. Praise glorifies God. This is his part of our prayer time. Praise reminds us of how much we have to be thankful for.

18. How to Pray
Praise (Bread)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 13:15

19. How to Pray
Petition (Meat)
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13
The center, or meat of the sandwich, are requests that we bring to Him.
Pray for your personal needs and desires (pray for God's will), Others needs (intercession), Church, Leadership, etc.

20. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
How to Pray
Petition (Meat)
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Psalm 66:18
Early in your prayer, ask for forgiveness via confession and repentance of any sins or wrong doing.

21. How to Pray
Praise (Bread)
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13
Complete your prayer by once again focusing on the all powerful, creator of the heavens and the earth, who is actually taking time to hear you. Lift him up for who is.

22. Read or Pray the word of God Sing to God. Meditate on God and His Word
How to Pray
Spruce up your prayer (Condiments)
Read or Pray the word of God
Sing to God.
Meditate on God and His Word

23. How to Pray
Spruce up your prayer (Condiments)
Blessed is the man…[who’s] delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2

24. How to Pray
Spruce up your prayer (Condiments)
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8

25. …The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
How to Pray
…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

26. Effectual - Sufficient to produce a desired effect.
How to Pray
Effectual - Sufficient to produce a desired effect.
Fervent - Having or showing great emotion.
Righteous - Meeting the standards of what is right or just
There is probably no other single verse in the Bible that gives us the keys to an effective prayer life. Want your prayers to make a difference? Then live a life pleasing to God and speak to Him from your heart.
See Luke 18 for examples (the parables of the unjust judge and of the Pharisee and the Publican.
Availeth - To be of use, value, or advantage.
American Heritage Dictionary - 2nd College Edition

27. How not to Pray
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luke 18:11
Do not pray to exalt yourself. True prayer cannot have pride in it. Read the entire parable in Luke 18: While the Pharisee bragged on himself, the Publican threw himself at the mercy of God.

28. How not to Pray
…for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 18:14
Abase: To lower in rank, prestige, or esteem; humiliate. – American Heritage Dictionary

29. How not to Pray
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:7
Some people will just say the same thing over and over again. Usually they don’t even know what they are saying because their mind is elsewhere. It appears that in the Bible days some people felt that it was a good thing. God is probably turned off as much to this type of interaction as we tend to be.

30. How not to Pray
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
Matthew 6:5-15 is all about prayer. Jesus finishes His thoughts on the subject by saying ye must forgive before you can be forgiven. Do not go to prayer with unforgiveness in your heart, unless you are praying that he gives you the strength to forgive…

31. Hindrances to Prayer
Laziness - Laziness is a lack of self discipline. Quality prayer is work, and it is easier to simply sit back and do nothing.
Busyness - We let the meaningless things in life consume all of our time, and the things that really matter, like prayer, get pushed aside.
Ignorance - We simply do not realize the power that can be found in a dedicated prayer life.
Lovers of Pleasure More than God - The flesh controls our life. Rather than doing things that strengthen the spirit, we do things that feed the flesh, which weakens the spirit.
Lack of Desire - This often comes when our lives are already blessed. We can pray when there is sickness, problems, threats, etc., but when everything is going great, we don't have that desire to pray.
Sister Joy Haney brings out some excellent reasons why we don’t pray. Don’t let this world or your flesh get in the way of your relationship with God.
When Ye Pray by Joy Haney

32. References/Suggested Reading
When Ye Pray by Joy Haney
No Easy Road: Inspirational Thoughts on Prayer by Dick Eastman