Prayer is a powerful weapon that we have been given as believers. But are we using this weapon as effectively as we could be? The Word of God is clear on the importance of prayer and we are going to highlight five effective strategies for seeing breakthrough in prayer.
These are not good ideas or the next trend. Prayer is a powerful weapon that we have access to as part of our inheritance in the Kingdom of God. It’s time that we start tapping into greater and greater measures of breakthrough. It’s what Jesus purchased on the cross and He deserves to get His full reward!
Prayer Is A Powerful Weapon of the Kingdom
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, the verse paints a clear picture of the power we have been given access to through Kingdom weapons: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
The weapons of the Kingdom have “divine power to demolish strongholds“. Do you have a stronghold in your life, your city, or your nation? If so, you have been given access to the powerful weapons of the Kingdom! The hope of glory is Christ IN you (Colossians 1:27)!
Prayer Is A Powerful Weapon, But Now What?
The scriptures below make it clear that we have access to powerful, stronghold demolishing, weapons of the Kingdom, but how do we wield them? And how do we partner with the Holy Spirit to see the glory of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14)?!
Again, we look to the Word of God and the promises contained in it to discover how to wield our Kingdom weapons. Prayer is a powerful weapon and there are several promises that we can step into and stand on as we demolish strongholds in our lives and on the earth!
Strategy #1 – Agreement
Matthew 18:19-20 – ” ‘Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’ ”
Prayer is a powerful weapon when we pray together in agreement with other believers. Deuteronomy 32:30 is another instance where we see the power of agreement in scripture, “How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?” There is exponential increase when two agree.
If you’re struggling to breakthrough in a specific area of your life, have you tried praying in agreement with someone else? If not, why don’t you try it today? You can stand on the promise in Matthew 18:19-20 and use prayer as a powerful weapon to see your breakthrough – exponential breakthrough!
Strategy #2 – Believe
Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
When you pray, do you pray hoping something will happen? Or do you pray believing that something will happen? There is a huge difference. When we pray hoping something will happen, doubt often creeps in. We aren’t really sure that God will move on our behalf. However, when we pray believing that God will move on our behalf we are activating the truth in Mark 11:24 that is attached to a powerful promise – it will be yours!
There are two good indicators for assessing if you are praying from hope or from believing. First, when you pray do you doubt? If so, confess, ask forgiveness, and then pray again believing that what you ask for will be yours! Second, are you seeing the fruit of your prayers? If not, then you might not believe that what you’re praying for will come to pass. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what’s happening and take care of that with Him. Then ask again!
Strategy #3 – Call Out
Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
This strategy is super simple, but even some believers forget to engage in this way. We have to call out to Him. We have to ask. Matthew 7:7 gives the same promise as Jeremiah 33:3, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Our responsibility in prayer is to call out and ask.
Do you struggle in asking God for things? It might be because you’re believing a lie (or two) about Him. He is a good Father and has good plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). If you aren’t experiencing “good plans”, it’s not Him. He allows the consequences of our actions, but He doesn’t cause bad things to happen to us to teach us lessons.
We don’t see that pattern modeled in the life of Jesus. Yes, He went to the cross, but it was “for the joy set before Him, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Every test He can turn into a testimony. Every mess, He can turn into a message. Call out to Him and invite Him into yours!
Strategy #4 – Be Confident
Hebrews 4:14-16 – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.“
We are sons and daughters, not slaves. Jesus’ words in John 15:15 are true for you today, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” We are His friends. Friends have access. Prayer is a powerful weapon and we can approach our Father with confidence, knowing that He cares for us!
Strategy #5 – Righteous Prayer
James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Did you know that as a believer in Jesus Christ you have been made righteous by His blood? The Father chose Jesus to pay the price for sin and because of His sacrifice we have become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). And because we are righteous in Him that means we are promised that our prayers are “powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
If you need breakthrough in any area of your life you can stand on the promise in James 5:16 and see breakthrough come as you confess your need and pray together. This strategy is simple – know who you are in Him, then confidently pray for one another. Prayer is a powerful weapon, especially in the mouths of the righteous!
