God teaches us in Scripture that there are certain things that are of utmost importance for intercession. We could call them preconditions for prayer. Now, what are the preconditions and basic Biblical principle we have to adhere to in order to have continuous answers to prayer? What are the preconditions and principles for effective prayer?
The following guidelines will be helpful:
Break with sin completely. Confess all forms of known, unconfessed sin in your life and break with it. Be sure that your heart is pure before God by allowing the Holy Spirit to show you any unconfessed sin.
Be united with Christ and never leave this position. “If we have been united with Him in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin…” (Rm.6:5-6).
Abide in the risen Christ (Jn.15:7; Rm.6:11). “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Ga.2:20).
His words must be in you as food for the inner self. Feed on the Word of God. Read substantial portions of Scripture every day. Life in the Word and from the Word.
Requests to God must not merely come from your emotions, but rather from the will and according to the will of God. Ask the Lord what His will is for the matter you are praying for. Remember, prayers can have four sources of origin: a) self, b) the desires of other people, c)from Satan, or d) the Holy Spirit. Consider yourself dead to your own imagination and your own prayer burdens. Be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit lays on your heart to pray for. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Php.2:13).
(From: Prayer changes everything, written by Bennie Mostert, published by Carpe Diem)
To read the complete article, download the PDF
