Prepare to Pray Effectively

One of the ladies participating in a corporate fast wrote that God showed her a layer of spiritual pride that made her see herself as "good enough and definitely better than some."

Her fasting began with God stripping off her blind fold in regards to her relationship with her husband (who was at the top of her list of "pray for this during fasting..."). God would not let her remain blind to her self-righteousness while she fasted for others.

"This morning in the pre-dawn moments as I spent time with Him, He came and showed me many things in my heart that have gotten "off-center" -- even though I hungered for Him. He showed me that I was seeking Him according to my own desires, selfish and self-assured that I was doing it 'right.' He so graciously, lovingly yet firmly brought conviction and understanding about dying to self in ways I had not seen before."

God is preparing her to be a powerful intercessor. The verse that promises, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" begins with the words "Confess your sins" (Jam. 5:16). When we repent, we are increasing our effectiveness in prayer.

I once heard a young lady admit she was afraid of prayer. She didn't want to go into God's presence and say with the psalmist, "Point out anything in me that offends you." She missed the privilege of having boldness in prayer.

Those with clean hearts have a confidence in prayer that those with covered sins lack. "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18).

Are we willing to pay the price necessary to have answered prayer? Does it seem too painful, too costly to be honest in God's presence? The cost of unconfessed sin is far more costly.

Father, You are welcome to reveal my heart to me as You see it. I want no covered sin to hinder my prayers.

"Point out anything in me that offends you" (Psalm 139:24).
"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]" (Jam. 5:16 Amp.).

"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him" (1 John 3:21, 22).