Effectual Prayer
Mark 11:24 Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
When we declare something in an attitude of prayer, we must do so in faith to see it come to fruition. Speaking in faith activates things in the realm of the Spirit. We should not pray as though we are playing the lottery. We should not pray as though there might be a chance it will happen, but then again, there’s also a chance it might not. We must pray in faith! The prayer of faith is effectual!
If you want to see things in your life and ministry to others align with what the Scriptures say regarding a kingdom vision and purpose God has shown you, you need to pray in faith, not just pray. Pray in faith! Pray, believing, and expecting. This can affect every part of your life and impact the lives of others you care for. Effectual prayer is declarative prayer rooted in what God is up to. We should always be aware that, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat the fruit of it, Proverbs 18:21.
What we speak about situations and people matters.
In James 5:16 of the Bible, it says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Praise God that the hindrance of unrighteousness was taken care of in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
There cannot be a hindrance of unrighteousness for anyone in Christ.
When the matter of righteousness is settled in Christ, all you need is the effectual fervent part. James gives us an example to show us what prayer looks like and what effectual fervent prayer is. There are many facets to what prayer is and looks like.
James speaks about how Elijah was a man of like passions as we are, and he prayed, and it did not rain for three and half years, and then Elijah prayed again, and it rained. When you hear this, the mind typically paints a picture of Elijah alone, crying out to God emotionally and for a long time because we mainly see prayer in one way only. Let’s see what Elijah did.
1Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
Elijah spoke to Ahab, and it did not rain. But James says Elijah prayed. The same thing happens again when it is time for it to rain. Elijah declares it. We are told that Elijah spoke to Ahab and then went to the top of Mount Carmel, bowed to the ground, put his face between his knees, and told his servant to go and look toward the sea. He did this seven times. Then his servant said there was a cloud the size of a man’s hand rising out of the sea. Elijah then told him to tell Ahab to prepare his chariot and go down before the rain stopped him. It does not tell us what Elijah is doing while his face is between his knees. But it does tell us what Elijah speaks as a declaration. Effectual prayer is a prayer that is rooted in faith. It is a prayer that is in tune with God to the point of being able to speak with confidence. Effectual prayer changes things.
