Have you ever experienced frustration due to unanswered or delayed prayers? Many believers have faced this inconsistency—perhaps praying for the healing of a loved one who eventually passed away, yet seeing others healed through prayer in different circumstances. To overcome this frustration, we must understand the heart of God and the principles of prayer.
What is prayer?
Prayer is primarily a process of communicating with God. It is not a monologue, but a dialogue where you speak and the other person responds. We serve a God who both listens and speaks, as evidenced by these scriptures:
Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Psalms 85:8: “I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants — but let them not turn to folly.”
Psalms 65:2: “You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.”
When we ask, God gives liberally: James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
It is essential to recognize that God wants your joy to be full, not just for you to be happy. Having your joy full is deeper than happiness; it is often found in God’s protection, such as when He stops you from marrying someone you are currently happy with but who would make life feel like “hell” in marriage.
To receive from Him, you must maintain a specific disposition:
Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
You must believe that He is a rewarder. This means you should not stop seeking diligently or leave the place of prayer until you have received a reward.
Levels of Receiving Answers
1. General Benevolence and Mercy
This is a surface level of answered prayer where God provides for everyone regardless of their spiritual standing. Jesus explained this in:
St. Matthew 5:44-45: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
While everyone has access to the rainfall, only those who sow seeds will see a harvest. If you ask for an increase without putting in effort or taking the corresponding actions required, you will have zero harvest.
2. Power-Transmitting Prayers
The second category involves prayers that result in supernatural intervention in the physical realm. It is important to note that prayer doesn’t generate God’s power; it transmits it. God is the source of power through the Holy Spirit within us, and we transmit that power into tangible work through prayer.
This power can be transmitted through: Humans, Such as when people feel the intensity of God’s power during a meeting. Angels: Who act as messengers and influencers to provide for needs and touch hearts.
The efficacy of this level is highlighted in:
James 5:16-17: “Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months.”
Moving Forward in Fellowship
Walking in consistent answered prayers requires fellowshipping with the power of God. Today, God indwells us with the fullness of His power, making this dimension more available to us than it was even for the prophets of old.
Don’t just think or read about prayer—pray with the consciousness of God’s power at work in you. Spend time in fellowship, whether through praying in tongues or simply speaking to the Father, believing that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him.
Section 2
In the previous section, we began exploring the foundational ways God answers prayers—through His mercy and benevolence and through power-transmission prayers. In this section, we take a step further to understand the vital place of spiritual authority and the intensity of the power at work within every believer.
It is impossible for God not to be able to do what we ask in prayers, even beyond our imaginations or comprehension. As we are reminded in Ephesians 3:20:
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
The words “exceeding abundantly above” show that God’s power is unquantifiable; there is no scale that can weigh its magnitude. While it is your responsibility to ask and His responsibility to do, notice that He acts according to the power at work in us.
The “power” referenced here is the same miracle-working power (dunamis) that God used to raise Jesus from the dead. While every believer—from a seasoned pastor to someone born again today—has the same magnitude of this power through the Holy Spirit, the intensity at which it works can differ.
Think of it like electricity: the current transmitted from a power source to a transformer is the same as what reaches your house, but it operates at different voltages. Voltage determines the intensity and the capacity of the current you can use. Prayer serves a specific purpose here: prayer gives direction to God’s power.
Victory Over Contradicting Forces
We must understand that there are contradicting forces, such as principalities and powers, that do not want you to have your answers and testimonies. They even tried to hold Jesus down from resurrecting, but He had sent prayers ahead during His time in Gethsemane.
Because of the power wrought in Christ, we now stand in a place of victory. Ephesians 1:19-22 describes this beautifully:
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”
Just as these principalities are under His feet, they are under your feet if you are in Him.
Many find it difficult to receive answers because of negative words spoken over their lineage or curses placed upon their generation. We see an example of spiritual hindrance in the story of Daniel, where the Prince of Persia delayed an angel for twenty-one days. Daniel only received his breakthrough because he did not stop praying.
If you are born again and have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have authority over these contradicting powers. This authority was secured through Christ’s sacrifice, as stated in Hebrews 2:14-15:
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
How to Exercise Your Authority
You do not pray as a victim; you pray from a place of victory and authority. The primary way you exercise this authority is through meditation and speaking. As Ecclesiastes 8:4 declares:
“Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?”
When dealing with demonic hindrances, delays, or setbacks in your finances and health, you must discern the situation and address it with authority. Do not let the devil bully you any longer. Begin to use your authority to call forth your breakthrough and command the enemy to take his hands off your life. Jesus sent prayers ahead so that even Hades could not keep Him; you must do the same today.
Section 3
In the journey of faith, prayer is more than just a routine; it is the arena where our destiny is birthed and where we find the strength to walk in God’s purpose. As we look at the life of Jesus, we see that one of the most vital aspects of prayer is navigating the moments where a conflict arises between God’s will and our own will.
The encounter in Gethsemane provides a profound template for how to handle distress and the weight of God’s calling.
Matthew 26:36-45 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray. And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed. Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me. And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire. And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, What! Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour? All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down with sleep. So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, using the same words. Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of especially wicked sinners [whose way or nature it is to act in opposition to God].”
It is in the place of prayer that we can recognize and be strongly convinced of what God truly desires for us. More importantly, prayer provides the strength to choose God’s will, especially when that path is inconvenient or painful.
While Jesus knew He could have asked the Father to avert His death, He chose to surrender to the Father’s only way: death on a cross. His prayer journey began from a request to have the cup pass over him to saying, “Father not my will but thy will be done”. Those hours of persistent prayer were not wasted. They allowed Him to access the supernatural strength required for His death, burial, and resurrection.
Prayer vs. The Flesh
There is a time to sleep and a time to pray persistently. The disciples fell asleep while Jesus prayed. This was a crucial moment that required them to suspend sleep and put the flesh under. The flesh naturally doesn’t like prayer; that is why some of us will. When circumstances are not settled in prayer, there is a very high tendency to handle spiritual matters in the flesh, just as Peter did when he initially reacted with violence.
However, through prayer, Jesus was able to win over offenses. Even in His arrest, He restored the ear of the servant whose intention was to arrest Him. In the place of prayer, Jesus was able to see that the end of His suffering was actually joy. This is reflected in Hebrews 12:2:
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Wisdom in the Delay
If you are experiencing a delay in answered prayers, wisdom suggests taking three steps:
1. Check the Will: Confirm if what you are asking aligns with God’s will.
2. Check the Timing: If the timing is not yet right, you must watch and pray, for waiting time is still praying time.
3. Pray it into Existence: Once you are sure of His will and timing, stay in prayer to enforce its reality.
A Personal Responsibility
We must realize that certain prayer moments are destiny-specific. While others can pray for us, someone else’s prayer cannot fully prepare you for your own future. Even though Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17, they still had to come together in the book of Acts 1 to pray for themselves to fulfill their callings.
Are you sleeping when you should be praying? It is time to awake! We should ask the Lord to take away the heaviness the enemy has put upon our eyes, for there needs to be a birthing of destiny in the place of prayer.
Let us make this our sincere request: “Lord, baptize me with prayer power!” Let the desire to pray always come first before anything else. Help me to be a man or woman of prayer.”
Section 4
In the journey of faith, understanding how to communicate effectively with God is essential for every believer. Just as a craftsman has different tools for different tasks, there are various types of prayers that we can employ to see results in our lives. As Kenneth E. Hagin highlights in The Art of Prayer, these include the prayer of faith, consecration, commitment, worship, agreement, praying in the Spirit, united prayer, supplication, and intercession.
While all are important, misapplying these prayers can sometimes hinder our testimonies. Today, we will focus specifically on two powerful instruments: The Prayer of Supplication and The Prayer of Faith.
The Prayer of Supplication
Supplication is the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly; it is a deeply heartfelt prayer. Unlike a casual request, it is characterized by a “gusto of emotions”—love, compassion, joy, or even provocation (holy anger). It is not the type of prayer you engage in while dozing off; it requires passion and humility.
You should consider using supplication for:
1. Personal and Spiritual Needs: As seen in Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
2. Other Saints: As instructed in Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
3. Those in Authority: 1 Timothy 2:1-2 states: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Supplication is particularly powerful when you are facing situations where other people must make decisions regarding your life. This is because God holds the heart of kings in His hands and can compel them to decide in your favor. Instead of murmuring when you are fed up with a situation, lock yourself away and pray a prayer of supplication.
The Prayer of Faith
While supplication often involves humble begging, the Prayer of Faith is about changing things and making petitions based on God’s revealed will. A key distinction of the prayer of faith is that it never contains an “if”. Within God’s will, we have been given the authority to address certain situations—like sickness—without having to beg Him to intervene.
A primary example is found in James 5:14-15:
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
When praying for the sick, you should speak to the sickness and tell it to leave without doubt in your heart. The prayer of faith involves taking God’s word or a prophecy and enforcing it by continually confessing it until it is fulfilled.
The Perfect Synergy
The prayer of supplication and the prayer of faith are not meant to work in isolation; they complement each other. Jesus provides the perfect template: He prayed the prayer of supplication in His closet and exercised the prayer of faith in the open when standing before sickness. If you are consistently given to supplication in your private time, you will see faster results when you stand before difficult situations to pray the prayer of faith.
We cannot overemphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in our prayer lives. He is our helper in times of weakness, as Romans 8:26 reminds us:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
As you grow in prayer, make it a habit to let the Holy Spirit take the wheel.
As we conclude this study, may you be helped by God. May the Holy Spirit baptize you with the zeal of prayer and give you burdens that draw you into His presence. May you not be weak in the days you should be praying, nor constrained by gluttony or sleep when you should be fasting or keeping a vigil. I pray that your heart’s desires turn into testimonies, that your applications return with good news, and that doors of opportunity open wide for you, in Jesus’ name.
