Explosive Secrets that Guarantee Prayer Results You Can Be Proud Of

By Life Solutions and Elphas Sipho Mdluli

Everyone wants answers and guidance, especially through prayer on life issues. This book on prayer guarantees results, defines prayer and explains who should pray. It describes the different kinds of prayer as each has its own set of rules to get results just like every sport has its own rules. The book guides you on how to rely on God for results. Further guidance is given on what to do when your prayer seems not answered. The element of intercessory prayer has been included. The role of the Holy Spirit has been highlighted to ensure proper guidance as you pray. Finally, the role of fasting in prayer has been included to ensure you receive maximum results from your prayer life. The book also discusses the power of faith and how it affects the results you get from prayer. It also encourages readers to reflect on their own prayer life and how to make it more effective. Finally, it offers practical advice for living a life of prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Life Solutions Investments
• Release date: Jul 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223540946

Book preview

Table of content

Page

Acknowledgements........................................... 3

Introduction...................................................... 4

Chapter 1: What is prayer?........................................ 6

Chapter: 2: Who should pray?.................................. 10

Chapter 3: Kinds of prayer................................. 35

Chapter 4: What to pray for?..................................... 53

Chapter 5: Why should you pray?............................ 71

Chapter 6: How to pray right?................................... 90 

Chapter 7: When prayer seems unanswered.......... 106

Chapter 8: Why is intercession important?............. 128

Chapter 9: What happens if you do not pray?......... 153

Chapter 10: How the Holy Spirit helps you to pray..167 

Chapter 11: What is the role of fasting in prayer?... 173 

Bibliography..................................................... 193

About the Author............................................... 195

Connect with the Author..................................... 196

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to my wife Bonisiwe who has been supportive during the time when I was working on this book. Without you, I would not have done this effectively. Thanks also go to my daughter Nompumelelo and my son Melokuhle who have been understanding and patient as I spent a lot of time working on the book.

Introduction

Prayer is a very important exercise for every believer. Whether you have realized it or not, let me remind you that you need to pray more than before. Times are evil. As the time for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ approaches, we need to pray. The devil also knows that he has limited time so he is busy destructing believers with many things. Why? He knows the power of prayer. Prayer disturbs his works of darkness. So he is working around the clock to ensure that his works accomplish a lot.

Jesus on the other hand is expecting us to pray to ensure we reap results. He is also concerned about the souls that are still lost. The cry of His heart is to have loyal followers who will fully follow His commands and perform His business according to His dictates.

Therefore, as a believer you need to make a conscious decision to dedicate part of your life to prayer. God cannot do His work apart from us. He needs us. Prayer should not just be something you try to fit into your schedule. It should be the key factor of your life.

In this book you will learn what prayer is, and who should pray. You will also learn the kinds of prayer you can use depending on what is required at a particular time. It is important to know what you should pray for and how to pray for it the right way. Some prayers seem not to be answered, so you will learn what to do in such cases. Knowing about intercession is also very important. You will further gain knowledge on what happens if you do not pray. Most of the time we do not know what to pray for as we should, so you will learn how the Holy Spirit comes to your aid. Finally, you will learn about the role of fasting in your life as you pray.

Chapter 1: What is prayer?

Prayer may simply be defined as communion with God. Over and above that, Wommack, (2007:89) further describes prayer as fellowship, relationship, and intimacy with God. According to the Christian Bible Reference Site, (2017:1) prayer is a loving communication with God. It is the expression of our inner spiritual needs and includes important aspects, which are expressions of faith and trust in God, confession of our sins, praise of God's mighty deeds, thanksgiving for all the good things we have received, dedication to serve God and other people, requests for our needs and the needs of others.

It is through prayer that we find strength of spirit, guidance, wisdom, joy and inner peace. In Psalms 118:5-6 the Bible records the following:

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (KJV).

When I called out, you answered me; you strengthened me. (Psalms 138:3-ISV).

God is on our side. As a believer, you need to understand that. He is not an enemy. He is a loving God and He is not waiting for you to make some mistakes so that He can punish you. According to the above portion of scripture, you can call on God even when you are in distress. There is no need to fear. God answers when you call Him. That is prayer. He strengthens you as you meet with Him in prayer. There is nothing that bothers you to which God will not respond. God is not selfish like a man who looks only for his own interests.

We read in Isaiah 58:9-11 as follows:

Then you'll call, and the LORD will answer; you'll cry for help, and he'll respond, 'Here I am.' "If you do away with the yoke among you, and pointing fingers and malicious talk; if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the needs of afflicted souls, then your light will rise in darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

And the LORD will guide you continuously, and satisfy your soul in parched places, and they will strengthen your bones; and you'll be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Be free to cry to God in prayer. The Creator of heaven and earth is ready to help you. God rewards those who also look at other people’s interests. He will guide you where you need Him to. As you meet with Him regularly in prayer, your soul will be satisfied.

According to Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6-7, the Bible records:

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV).

The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:7, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (KJV).

All of the above scriptures relate to prayer and show to us what it is. They may vary in purpose but they are all about prayer. You take whatever troubles you to God in prayer. So a believer is not allowed to worry. Why? There is a scriptural prescription for worry. Take all your cares to God in prayer. Once you have done that, the peace of God which surpasses understanding shall keep your heart and mind through Christ. We all need to have a peace of mind in order to enjoy our lives.

Prayer may be long or short. You can pray when you are alone or with a group. Prayer may be made silently or aloud, but it should be a true communication with God and not done for public recognition according to Matthew 6:5-8:

And whenever you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. I tell you with certainty, they have their full reward!

But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees from the hidden place will reward you.

This scripture teaches us that we should always have the right motive when we pray. The right motive will help us get the desired results out of the prayer. Never pray to be noticed by people. If you do that you will be robbing yourself of the rewards from God who sees in secret.

Chapter: 2: Who should pray?

Can anyone pray? Who is expected to pray? Well, everyone is expected to pray. That includes both believers and non-believers. Even non-believers should pray? Yes, but their only prayer is to ask for forgiveness so they can enter into the kingdom of God.

When a Sinner prays

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

It is non-believers who are unrighteous. Believers are now righteous. When one gets born again, he is forgiven and receives the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This is imputed righteousness. So if a sinner confesses his sin, he is forgiven and receives the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ.

But if it is not about confession of sin, his prayer cannot be heard; according to Isaiah 59:1-2, the Bible records:

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." (John 9:31- KJV).

It appears that God listens to prayers who do His will according to these scriptures. We note however, in both the Old Testament and New Testament God responding to prayers who were not known to be followers of God or those who had not received salvation. In the Old Testament, the response was linked to someone who feared God.

Some examples:

1) Hagar and Ishmael

Hagar asked God to protect her son Ishmael in Genesis 21:14-19. God not only protected Ishmael, God blessed him exceedingly. This was in connection with Abraham.

We read:

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

We see God here as a God of Grace. He saw the situation of the child as he was crying and then spoke to Hagar. The Bible says God opened Hagar’s eyes so she could see the Lord’s provision. God reaches out to help a genuine cry for help. Note that they were linked to Abraham the great friend of God who believed in Him. So a sinner can be heard if he is genuinely looking for help.

2) Ahab fasts and mourns over Elijah’s prophecy

In 1 Kings 21:17-29, especially verses 27-29; Ahab fasts and mourns over Elijah's prophecy concerning his posterity. God responds by not bringing about the calamity in Ahab's time. Verses 27-29 records:

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house. (KJV).

God was drawn by Ahab’s humility. Even though he was spared, the prophecy came to pass during the time of his son. The Lord does not intend to harm people. But He wants them to come to repentance so He can forgive and then start a relationship with them.

3) Cornelius’ prayer

This happened in the New Testament. Cornelius, the Roman centurion in Acts 10, had the apostle Peter sent to him in response to his prayers because he was a righteous man. That was natural righteousness. Acts 10:1-3 tell us that Cornelius prayed to God regularly. The story goes as follows:

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his