Four tips that will help you get results.
Prayer is as simple as talking to God.
Yet, effective prayer is what gets results (James 5:16). Most Christians pray, ask God for what they want, then wait for the answer. The problem is that, while prayer itself is simple, the preparation of the heart beforehand is often left by the wayside.
God isn’t trying to withhold anything from anyone. He has laid out the roadmap to answered prayer throughout His Word, but piecing it all together has eluded many believers, leaving them wondering why they don’t have what they ask for.
God’s desire for His people to know and utilize the kind of prayer that changes everything is so great, that in 2014, God had a powerful encounter with Mary Colbert—a visitation in her bedroom. During this time, Mary received a mandate from Him to write a book with the faith principles He wanted her to share with His people. This supernatural encounter led to the writing and release of her new book, Prayer That Changes Everything.
On BVOV broadcast from October 5th-9th with Brother Copeland, she shares a small sampling of these principles and how you can apply them in your life. We’re sharing some of this exciting revelation below to help you discover the kind of prayer that changes everything.
1. Pray With the Kind of Faith That Excites God
“But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ And He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ But she said, ‘Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed at once.” –Matthew 15:25-28 (NASB)
Jesus marveled at the kind of faith the Syrophoenician woman displayed in Matthew 15:25-28. It was the kind of faith that excites God because it was a faith that wouldn’t give up and wouldn’t take no for an answer. It’s the kind of faith that knows God is good and His faithfulness endures forever.
Bartimaeus displayed that same kind of faith that excites God. He cried out to Jesus and wouldn’t stop, even when everyone around him told him to stop and be quiet (Mark 10:46-52). That’s the kind of faith that excites God. It’s the kind of prayer that changes everything.
Think about it. Everything Barnabas had known up until that point—total darkness, helplessness, poverty—was changed in that one moment of calling out to the Lord with the kind of faith that gets His attention. EVERYTHING changed and he received EVERYTHING he asked of God.
If your prayers have become lackluster, doubt-filled, or more grumbling than anything else, it’s time to switch on your faith again. It’s time to build your faith by spending time in God’s Word to the point that it will reach out and grab His attention—just like the faith of the Syrophoenician woman and Barnabas did.
They were believing for the impossible—something they could never accomplish on their own and something no other human could do for them. That’s why Mary Colbert says, “Exciting faith believes for the outrageous.”
It’s time you do the same, and pray with the kind of faith that excites God. You’ll see that it is one of the keys to prayer that changes everything!
2. Pray Backed by Faith in Constant Motion
“If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard.”—Colossians 1:23 (NASB)
Faith that excites God is going to come from faith that is in constant motion.
What does that mean?
When something isn’t in constant motion, it becomes stagnant—complacent. As you know, stagnant water becomes putrid—a breeding ground for bacteria. It no longer offers life, but instead, becomes a hazard.
When you talk to God in prayer backed by faith in constant motion, you’re not complacent in your believing. You are not moved away from the hope of the gospel and the promise of answered prayer. You are flowing and moving with His power, confidently partnering with Him to bring about His perfect will in your life.
God is a forward-moving God, and He wants you to be the same. The kind of prayer that changes everything is prayer backed by faith in constant motion
If your faith has become dormant, it’s time to put it in motion again! How can you do that? Feed regularly on God’s Word, fight the good fight of faith, and apply faith to every situation.(Find 3 Tips for Keeping Your Faith in Constant Motion HERE.)
Watch Kenneth Copeland, Mary Colbert and Dr. Don Colbert talk about the importance of faith in motion.
3. Pray Early in the Morning
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.”
–Genesis 3:8 (NKJV)
We know that we can pray to God anytime, anywhere. But different types of prayer unlock different types of power. Corporate prayer, the prayer of agreement and the prayer of intercession are each powerful in their own way. The same can be said of prayer during different times of the day.
In her book, Mary Colbert shares about her personal experience with early morning prayer. She and her husband, Dr. Don Colbert, live in Florida and often drive to the ocean in the early morning hours to take in God’s creation and connect with the Father.
She believes there is a special presence of the Lord in the cool of the day that is unlike any other. “It opens the door to amazing moments with Him,” she says.
If you’re in a place where your prayer life needs refreshing, try rising before the sun and praying either in your home or in a place where you can take in His creation. Speak with Him in the cool of the day, and let prayer in the early morning connect you with your Father in a fresh, new way.
4. Pray on the Victory Side
“But thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph.”—2 Corinthians 2:14 (EHV)
The goal in any prayer is to take victory on the other side, right? There should be no other option on the table.
If you’re approaching God with a “maybe He will, maybe He won’t” mentality, you’re off to a bad start. Your prayers are answered when you BELIEVE you will have what you ask (Mark 11:24; James 1:6-7). You have to pray on the victory side because that’s the kind of prayer that leads to triumph. On approaching the throne with confidence, Mary Colbert says, “I’ve never had God call me into a battle He didn’t intend for me to win.”
If you need to stir yourself up to pray the kind of prayer that changes everything, start to see yourself victorious in your situation. Pray from a posture of triumph—not defeat. God ALWAYS causes you to triumph. You just have to get on board!
When you make these simple changes in your prayer routine and begin praying the kind of prayer that changes everything, EXPECT to see breakthrough—EXPECT to receive what you ask! God’s not holding anything back from you. He’s waiting for you to break through those things that have hindered you for far too long. It’s about time for VICTORY!
Watch Kenneth Copeland, Mary Colbert and Dr. Don Colbert discuss the powerful principles behind prayer that changes everything.
