Hello everyone! I’m thrilled to kick off a new Bible Study Series called “The 7 Qualities of Effective Prayers.” In this series, we’ll delve into what makes prayers truly impactful in deepening your connection with God.

The Bible teaches us about the distinction between good prayers and bad prayers. In fact, I’ve previously covered this topic in a video titled “How to Pray Bad Prayers,” which serves as a perfect introduction to our current series. Be sure to give it a watch!

Given the existence of both good and bad prayers, it’s essential that we pray in alignment with God’s will. Otherwise, as the Bible warns us, our prayers could be deemed abominable, disgusting, and abhorrent to God.

Therefore, the primary aim of this Bible Study Series is to enhance your prayer life. Throughout the series, I’ll be sharing seven crucial qualities that your prayers should embody. By incorporating these qualities, you’ll notice a significant improvement in the effectiveness of your prayers, drawing you closer to God.

Without further ado, let’s embark on our Bible Study Series by exploring the first quality:

Humble prayer

The first quality we’ll delve into is humble prayer. It’s crucial that our prayers stem from a place of humility. Let’s take a moment to understand the significance of humility in prayer, as highlighted in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

This verse emphasizes the necessity of humbling ourselves before God before we can earnestly seek His presence. Pride can act as a barrier, making it difficult to surrender to God’s will and approach Him with sincerity.

So, what does it mean to approach God with humility in prayer? Here are some key points to consider:

1. We must acknowledge our own sinfulness

A humble individual acknowledges their own shortcomings and sins without denial or concealment. Recognizing our own inadequacy and dependence on God’s righteousness rather than our own is essential for effective prayer.

This point is well illustrated in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. We read in Luke 18:9-14:

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

So those who are humble will be exalted and those who are filled with pride will be humbled. When we acknowledge our sins, we can better repent of them and change for the better. This leads us to the second answer.

2. Ask for forgiveness

Seeking forgiveness from God requires genuine humility. Pride can hinder our ability to sincerely ask for forgiveness. Therefore, it’s essential to cultivate humility before approaching God in repentance. Asking for God’s forgiveness entails setting aside our pride and embracing His grace and mercy with a humble heart.

3. Recognize God’s greatness

Being humble before God involves acknowledging His majestic and almighty power. In comparison to God’s greatness, we are mere mortals—flesh and blood destined to return to dust. Our existence, fleeting and finite, pales in comparison to God’s eternal nature.

No matter our accomplishments or perceived greatness, we must recognize our insignificance before the Creator. In the span of eternity, our seventy or so years on earth are but a blink of an eye. Thus, humility demands that we approach God with reverence and awe, fully aware of His unmatched glory and wisdom.

In the presence of God’s omnipotent power, we are humbled, reminded of our dependency on Him and the vastness of His existence.

4. Submit to God’s will

Jesus Christ, also known as Yahshua the Messiah, instructs us to include in our prayers a plea for God’s will to prevail in our lives. In Matthew 6:10, he says:

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Requesting God’s will to be fulfilled requires genuine humility. It entails relinquishing our own desires and submitting to God’s divine plan. When we pray for God’s will to be done, we acknowledge His sovereignty and entrust our lives to His guidance.

Thus, humility emerges as the foundational quality of a truly effective prayer.

The next time you pray, always go before God with a humble heart, asking for His will and not your will to be done. Most importantly, submit to His power and authority and let Him guide you throughout your life.

That’s it for the first part of this bible study series, the 7 Qualities of Effective Prayers. I hope you learned something new today.

Join our Teach Us to Pray Course

By the way, this Bible study series is inspired by one of our best online Christian courses, Teach Us to Pray. In this course, I teach students what the Bible truly says about prayer, help them discover the wrong teachings about prayer, improve their understanding of the power of prayer, and most importantly, guide them in discovering how they can move closer to God through prayer.

So, if you’re interested, please check it out. I’m sure you’ll love our Teach Us to Pray course.

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