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Every activity in life has basic rules that must be followed before success can be achieved. For example, if you want to play the game of baseball, you would not use the rules that govern the game of football. You can't get to first base, let alone make a homerun without a bat. You'll just stand at home plate watching the ball whiz by and strike out every time.

The same principle is true when it comes to prayer. There are basic rules that must be followed in order to have a winning prayer life. Without them, you will continually strike out and never achieve God's will for your life.

One definition of prayer is "communication with God." Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated the importance of staying in constant communication with His Father. Because prayer was His lifestyle, Jesus always knew where He was going and what He would say and do when He got there.

Although the disciples saw Jesus do many great miracles, the Bible doesn't record them asking Him how to do miracles. It does, however, record them asking Jesus to teach them to pray. I found that very interesting. It seemed as if they recognized that prayer was the foundation of everything that Jesus said and did during His earthly ministry.

I heard a story about a congregation that met in a field to pray for rain to release a long dry spell. The preacher looked seriously at his flock and said: "Brothers and Sisters, ya'll know why we are here. Now, what I want to know is - Where are your umbrellas?"

That congregation must have forgotten the Words of Jesus, "Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24 KJV).

One day, while studying the Word, I discovered five essential elements to effective prayer. Each one just happens to begin with the letter "A," which makes them easier for me to remember. I call them my prayer basics and hope they will help you as much as they are helping me.

Abide
Although this is just the first prayer basic, it is enough to get your prayer answered. In John 15:7 Jesus promised, "If you live in Me abide vitally united to me and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."

Now that is an awesome promise! Think of it. Ask whatever you will! Jesus said it shall be done for you. It all hinges on that two-letter word "if." If you abide vitally united to Jesus. If His Words remain in you. If His Words continue to live in your hearts. "If." That little word pulls a big punch.

While on earth, Jesus walked in this powerful truth day by day and wanted us to have the same advantage. Because He stayed vitally united to His Father in prayer, He could ask whatever He willed, and it was done.

Remember the leper that came to Jesus wanting to be healed? He said, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Some people know that God can, but they don't know if He will. Others believe that it's God's will to heal, but they don't believe He can heal them. This man had the will and can in the right perspective and got his miracle that day. Jesus touched him and said, I will; be thou clean. Immediately, the leprosy left, and he was made clean (Matt. 8:2-3).

Ask
When speaking about prayer, John Wesley said, "It seems God is limited by our prayer life - that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him." It is difficult to think that the Creator is limited by the creation, but it is true. God is just and will not intervene in our lives without being asked or invited. When you refuse to ask God for the things you need, regardless of your reasons, you limit God in the earth.

Now, don't think that you are going to shock God with your requests. Remember, He knows what you have need of before you ask. However, His will is that you ask.

With so many people in the earth asking, have you ever wondered how God knows who is who? Well, in the same way that your fingerprints are unique to you alone, your voice has a voiceprint that is unique to you. Your voice is your address in the spirit realm, and it is easily recognized by God.

When you cry out to God, He instantly identifies your voiceprint. Not only does He hear it, the Bible says He is always near to those who call Him in truth, and He will fulfill the desire of them who fear Him. So, go ahead and ask. It's His idea.

Assurance
My mother is the best cook in the world. She absolutely loves to cook for me. I could walk in her house today and ask for a bowl of her amazingly delicious chicken gumbo, and she would hit the pots in a flash. In no time, we would be slurping up her wonderful gumbo, eating potato salad and rubbing our tummies in contentment. I know it would happen just that way. I know her that well. That's my assurance.

One of my favorite promises for answered prayer is in 1 John 5:14-15. I love the way it is translated in the Amplified Bible "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we positively know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge that we have granted us as our present possessions the requests made of Him."

Assurance in prayer comes from knowing the character of God. You have studied His Word, and you know His will concerning the thing you are asking about. There is no reason to be timid or fearful because God's Word says to come boldly before the throne of grace in your time of need. The moment you ask, you can rejoice for the answer because you know your Father heard your request. You know He will hear and listen to you and grant anything you ask. You know it would happen just that way. You know Him that well.

Authority
Every born-again believer has the potential to tear down strongholds of the enemy and build up the Kingdom of God with their prayers. I'm not talking about a haphazard prayer life that occasionally reminds God about your problems. I am talking about constant communication with God so that the Holy Spirit is able to reveal the plans of the enemy and show you how to neutralize his forces and send him running for cover.

It's no wonder the devil works overtime to stop your prayer life. He knows that it's all over for him the moment you discover the authority given to you by Jesus Christ: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19 KJV).

When you have the authority to use someone's name, it is as though they were standing there in person. When you use the Name of Jesus in faith, everything that is named has to bow. The devil messed up when he put a name on your problem. Cancer has to bow. Poverty has to bow. Oppression has to bow. Fear has to bow. Every name that is named has to bow!

Philippians 2:10-11 says, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

You are seated with Christ with full authority to use His Name to bust the devil's head back into the dust. Get busy!

Assignments
Prayer basics will lead you out of infancy in prayer and into rivers of Spirit-led prayer. Once God knows He can rely on you to pray, He may place assignments on your heart. It could be an entire nation or the little girl next door, but in His sight, they are equally important and vital to His plan. Think of it. God has asked you to be involved in helping Him in the earth.

Prayer always begins with God. If prayer is your lifestyle, He will find a way to reveal His assignments to you. But don't worry, God will not throw you in over your head. He'll start you out in the shallows, sort of a wading pool, so you can get your feet wet first. If you are found faithful, God will move you on to deeper things.

Heart-led prayers, not head-led, flow with power of the Holy Ghost. John 7:38-39 says, "He that believes in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Never underestimate the power of prayer. It is so awesome that it will heal the sick, save the lost and set the captives free. Remember, it was prayers spoken in faith that parted the Red Sea, raised the dead and fed the multitudes. Regardless of the need on your heart today, prayer will reveal God's plan of victory to you!

Jesse Duplantis Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Cathy Duplantis
Web site: Jesse Duplantis Ministries
 
Reverend Cathy Duplantis is an anointed teacher of the Gospel dedicated to living by faith and inspiring others to do the same. Cathy is the wife of Evangelist Jesse Duplantis. She has worked continually with her husband in ministry since it began in 1978, serving as Administrator, Editor in Chief of Voice of the Covenant magazine, and television co-host.
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