How to Know Prayer Really Works

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

(Matthew 6:10 KJV)

Have you been praying for something for a long time? Do you feel like prayer doesn’t work? I am there with you. I am praying about certain circumstances in my life for many years.

However, I recently read a devotional by Elisabeth Elliot called “Does Prayer Work?” She wrote, “Often we expect to arrange things according to our whims by praying about them, and when the arrangement fails to materialize we conclude that prayer doesn’t work. God wants our willing cooperation in the bringing in of his kingdom. If ‘Thy kingdom come’ is an honest prayer, we will seek to ask for whatever contributes to that end. What, after all is said and done, do you want above all? Is it ‘Thy will be done’? If so, leave it to Him. Is it ‘My will be done’? Don’t waste your time and God’s by praying. Have it your way.” ¹

Whew! Are my prayers merely a laundry list of items I want God to do for me? When God doesn’t answer my prayers the way I want, I decide prayer doesn’t work. I examine my prayers and realize I am trying to rearrange my life according to my will, instead of seeking God’s will.

Pray “Thy will be done”

How do we know God’s will? Spend time with Him, comparable to getting to know a friend. When we learn the character of God, His will becomes our will. God is holy, just, loving, and merciful. He wants to spend time with us!

Many years ago, my small group at church formed accountability partnerships to keep each other on track to spend at least a few minutes a day in prayer and reading God’s Word. I thank God for the group of women who inspired me to read the Bible every morning. Even if it was one verse.

Do you struggle to spend time with God daily? Find someone to keep you accountable. Prayer works when we read the Bible regularly and pray “Thy will be done.”

Pray like Jesus did

As believers, God wants us to be more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit guides us to emulate Jesus by praying like Him.

Find a time and a quiet place to be alone and pray. Jesus often went by himself to an isolated place to pray to His Father (Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23, Luke 5:16).

Jesus prayed for His Father’s will to be done. Right before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39 ESV).

Prayer works when we pray like Jesus did. Read more in Matthew 6:9-13.

Pray specific prayers

The primary purpose of prayer is to give glory to God when He answers.

It is difficult to know whether vague prayers are answered. Jesus wants us to ask specifically what we want to give glory to God. As He said, “’Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son’” (John 14:13 ESV).

For example, Jesus asked the blind man (Bartemaeus), “’What do you want me to do for you?’ And the blind man said to him, ‘Rabbi, let me recover my sight.’” (Mark 10:51 ESV). Of course, a blind man wants to see. Didn’t Jesus know that?

A commentary explains, “Jesus’ question was not designed to get information but to encourage Bartimaeus to articulate his need and express his faith. Bartimaeus’ simple response, Rabbi, I want to see, declared his confident trust in Jesus’ ability.” ²

Specific prayers rule out coincidences and events that would have happened anyway, even if we had not prayed about them. God can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer works when miraculous answers to prayer glorify God.

Prayer

Join me in choosing to honor God and serve His Kingdom in our prayers, instead of promoting our selfish motives. So we pray, “Thy will be done.”

Dear God, I confess I care more about my wants than your wants in my prayers. I know my will is prideful and selfish. Teach me to pray for Your will. Make Your will mine, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

References

1. Elliot, E. (1985). A Lamp for My Feet (p. 61). Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications.
2. Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 155). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.