Prayer is the only ordained means by which believers communicate with God. In the Scriptures, the activity of prayer or praying is also described in various ways as “calling upon the Lord” (Psalm 17:6); “calling upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26); crying unto the Lord (Psalm 3:4); lifting up one’s soul unto God (Psalm 25:1); seeking the Lord (Isaiah 55:6); coming boldly unto the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16); drawing near to God (Hebrews 10:22), and pouring out one’s heart to God (I Samuel1:16).

Everything about the believer’s life centres around the effectiveness of his or her prayer life – victory in life, success in ministry, influence on society and reception of heaven’s blessings, all of which depend so much on the quality of his or her prayers. The believer must, therefore, learn the art of effective praying and pay diligent attention to the development of his prayer potentials for his own good.

Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has great potentials for effective praying which include: (i) The indwelling Christ (Colossians 1:27); (ii) The indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18); (iii) God’s Word (God’s promises) in the heart (Colossians 3:16); (iv) Faith in the living and true God (Acts 27:25); (v) The believer’s privileged position as a child of God (the father-son relationship) (Daniel 6:23); (vi) His inheritance in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:21); (vii) The abiding presence of the Triune God (Matthew 28:20; Psalm 91:2; Romans 8:32); (viii) The “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) of men and women, who prayed in faith and received marvellous answers from God scattered all over the entire Scriptures.

If believers would meditate on the above facts, in respect of their Christian lives, they will develop themselves to pray very effectively.

The disciples had watched Jesus pray effectively. They had seen the practical result of prayers in His life and ministry. Everything about His life was a great challenge to them. And they had concluded that His vibrant prayer life must have been responsible for all that they were seeing. They, therefore, requested Him to teach them to pray. Christ agreed to teach them without delay.

Further Reading (King James Version): Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-8; Matthew 6:1-15; Colossians 1:27; Revelations 3:20; I John 4:4;Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26; John 7:8,1; Psalm 119:11; Psalm 37:31; Luke 2:19; Matthew 28:20; Mark 11:22; Acts 7:25; Hebrews 12:1; 11:1-35; Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-8; Matthew 6:1-15; Mark 11:22-24; James 5:13-18; Psalm 66:18; I John 3:21,22; James 1:5-8; John 14:12,13; 16:23-24; Matthew 7:7; Romans 8:32; Matthew 6:6; Psalm 5:3; 55:17; I Thessalonians 5:17; Acts10:2; Luke 2:37; I Timothy 5:5; Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46,47; Psalm 119:62; Genesis 18:32; 32:26; Deuteronomy 9:18; Matthew 15:27; James 5:17; Luke 22:41-46; 16:12; Daniel 6:10; Psalm 55:17.