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How to Pray Effectively

Prayers Pastor Steve has prayed and seen answered, free to use as they are or as models for your own. Find the one you need, then pray it.

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Isaiah 43:26 [AKJ] Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare you, that you may be justified.

God invites us to "plead" with Him. What does "plead" mean? To plead is to "state or set forth your case." The picture is one of a courtroom. In court, the best case wins. So build a case for yourself before you come to Heaven’s throne!

The more Scriptures and Scriptural reasons we have for what we want, the better the case we build or present before God. God is not only wanting you to agree with Him, but God also wants to agree with you! You've got to give Him something to agree with. Plead with Him, state your case, give Him your reasons, and present Him your Scriptures!

People intuitively know how to build a good case in life, but when it comes to talking with God, they seem to forget their skill and get awkward in prayer. For instance, lets say you wanted a new job, how are you going to get that job? You need to build a case! Why are you valuable? What can you do for the company? Generally, it's not enough to say, "I can study" or "I have a degree." The boss is interested to know: Can you fix problems? Can you work in teams? Are you accountable? Do you know how to train others? If you build a good case with good reasons and supporting evidence, you will get the job!

It's no different with effective prayer! Build a good case for what you want with good reasons and supporting evidence - that's the Scriptures. Don't just say, "I base all my prayers on one Scripture, Matthew 7:7, Ask and you shall receive." It is generally not a strong or sufficient case. The devil is also pleading against you. Remember the devil is the “false accuser of the brethren.” He’s trying to pile up evidence on his side. But God wants to agree with you, not the devil, so God invites you to "plead" your case with Him.

To help you learn how to plead your case, I have given you a look into my prayer life, by uploading for free many of the prayers that have worked for me and been answered in my life. You can pray them exactly as they are. Use them as models for your own prayer life. If you mix your own faith with these Scriptures, you will find the Word works every time!

God said in Jeremiah 1:12 (ASV), “…I watch over my word to perform it.” Once you learn how to plead your case, you will be adept to highlight your own Scriptures, build your own case with God, and get your own answers for anything you need!

Pleading your case is part of the “prayer of faith” or the prayer to change things and circumstances in your life. There are 9 other types of prayers found in the Bible. To learn more about these, visit our online shop for the CD series called “9 Types of Prayer” or read Pastor Steve’s new book “The Divine Code from 1 to 2020”.

Studies & Exams

Tip: If you’re a student, God wants to put you above the rest of the class and you should glorify God in your studies. If you are cramming for 4 hours or more, your brain will get tired, frustrated or burnt out. You are putting too much demand on your brain and under-utilizing your spirit.

There are 2 secrets to passing your exams stress-free. The first is: it would be far better for you to pray in tongues 1 hour then study 2 hours, than to cram for 4 hours straight. You will accomplish far more in less time and not feel pressured. Why? Because most stress comes from the unknown, so now is the best time to pray in unknown tongues. You will awaken your spirit and whatever you “feel” drawn to study will usually be the very questions on the exam. By praying, you tap into your born again spirit which has a larger memory capacity than your brain. The Holy Spirit can also “bring all things to your remembrance” when you tap into your spirit instead of being over-demanding on the brain.

The second secret is to believe the Scriptures and confess them. Don’t believe what other people think and say about you. They only know your past. But God knows your future. Maybe you once were slow, but you’re not that way now! You’re a new creation in Christ. Find out what God thinks of you because God can change your destiny if you will agree with His Word.

One last practical wisdom about studying: remember that no exam tests you on what is in your head. An exam tests what’s in your teacher’s head. So be wise enough to pay attention to what your teacher wants to hear for answers. School papers, projects and tests are not designed primarily to reveal your creativity or originality. Those things are given by God, recognized by God, and best used in real life for God. A secular teacher doesn’t want to know what’s in your head; they want to know if you know what’s in their head. So in an assignment or exam, focus on what your teacher knows and repeat those answers back to him or her.

James 1:5 (NLT) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Lord, I ask for wisdom and by faith I believe I receive wisdom!

Joshua 1:8 (NLT) Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Studying is acting in line with the Word, therefore it is an act of faith!

Daniel 1:17 (NLT) 17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. 20 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them TEN TIMES more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

(AKJ) 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them TEN TIMES better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

I am 10 times wiser than all my peers because God lives in me! God knows every subject better than my teachers do, and He lives in me!

Psalm 119:97-100 (NKJ) 97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me WISER than my enemies; for they are ever with me. 99 I have MORE UNDERSTANDING than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I UNDERSTAND more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.

I am wiser than my enemies and have more understanding than my teachers!

John 14:6 (ASV) But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.

I believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit! I call upon You to teach me and remind me everything I need to know for my exam and my success, in Jesus’ Name!

2 Corinthians 2:16b (NKJ) But we have the mind of Christ.

I have the mind of Christ.

1 John 4:4 (NKJ) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Greater is the Teacher in me than the exams and pressures that are in the world. I trust in the Greater One to put me over, in Jesus’ Name.

Written by Steve Cioccolanti for the benefit of the Body of Christ. Free to duplicate but not sell. Rights reserved by Discover Ministries.