Accurate Prayer Points: A Guide to Effective Prayer
Written by Pastor Dr. Joel Dabbas
In this season, many believers and ministries are fasting and praying, seeking God’s guidance and intervention. But as we engage in prayer, it's important to remember one crucial aspect: the accuracy of our prayer points. The Lord’s prayer itself was birthed from a request that we can learn a lot from: "Lord, teach us how to pray." This simple yet profound request reveals that knowing how to pray is as important as knowing what to pray.
1. Start with the Request: "Teach Us How to Pray"
The first and most fundamental prayer point is to ask the Lord to teach you how to pray. The disciples asked Jesus, "Lord, teach us how to pray," and it was after this request that He taught them how to pray and what to pray for. This teaches us that in prayer, the Holy Spirit is the one who guides and instructs us on what to pray. Therefore, before we even start, we must ask God to show us the prayer points, and then, with His guidance, pray them.
Prayer is not just about bringing our personal requests to God but aligning our will with His. It brings God's kingdom and will from heaven to earth, communicating His will and purpose. Prayer doesn’t create God's will, but it channels and aligns us with what He is already doing in heaven.
2. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Prayer
When we pray, it is important to understand that we may not always know what to pray for. But this is where the Holy Spirit helps us. In Romans 8:26, we read:
"Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
This means that prayer is a tool for us to understand the mind of the Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, we get insight into what God's will is on any matter. And so, before we pray, we must ask the Spirit for the prayer points, knowing that He will help us articulate them accurately.
3. Three Instances of God’s Accurate Prayer Points
In scripture, we find several instances where what the Lord instructed His followers to pray for wasn’t what we might have naturally prayed for. Let’s take a look at three such examples:
a. Praying for the Harvest
In Luke 10:2, Jesus said:
"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
If we were to follow a common prayer point, we might pray, "Lord, send us more laborers!" But the real issue wasn’t the quantity of laborers; it was their focus. The Lord's prayer point was not to pray for more laborers, but to redirect those already laboring to focus on His harvest. So, a more accurate prayer would be:
"Lord, send laborers who are currently outside Your harvest into Your harvest, for the laborers are few in the field that is truly Yours."
b. Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
The Apostle Paul pleaded with the Lord three times for his thorn in the flesh to be removed. However, the Lord’s answer wasn’t a "yes" to his request. Instead, God said:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Paul’s prayer point was for the thorn to depart, but God’s accurate response was to highlight His grace and strength, not the removal of the thorn. This led Paul to shift his prayer and attitude, boasting in his weaknesses because they allowed God’s power to rest upon him. His prayer and confession now focused on embracing the power of Christ through weakness.
c. Peter’s Sifting by Satan
When Jesus spoke to Peter in Luke 22:31-32, He said:
"Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
The typical prayer might be to ask for protection from Satan’s sifting techniques. But Jesus didn’t pray that Satan would stop his attack. Instead, He prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. This teaches us that faith is the crucial element in spiritual warfare, not a focus on the enemy.
4. Key Principles for Accurate Prayer
As we continue to pray, here are four essential things to keep in mind:
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God’s Current Status in Manifestation
Always remember God's current dimension or status in manifestation. In the case of the harvest, Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest. Never undermine His Lordship in prayer or warfare. -
The Sufficiency of His Grace and Strength
Do not undermine the sufficiency of His grace. Paul’s lesson is clear: God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, and His grace is enough. -
Focus on Faith, Not the Enemy
The most important thing to God is that your faith should not fail. It’s not about fighting Satan but standing firm in your faith, knowing that the victory has already been won. -
Ask God to Teach You How to Pray
Your first prayer point should always be to ask the Lord to teach you how to pray. Once you’ve received His guidance, pray what He instructs you to pray.
Conclusion: Aligning Our Prayers with God’s Will
In this season of fasting and prayer, let's make sure that our prayers are not merely based on what we want but are in alignment with what God is already doing. By asking the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers and focusing on God's will, we can ensure that our prayers are accurate and effective, bringing God's kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.
Let’s remember: The most powerful prayers are those that are rooted in God’s will and expressed through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
