How do we pray ?

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 CJB

As an  intercessor I know this scripture like the back of my hand. Any believer that has a heart for prayer will agree that one of the key elements, when we pray, is the ability to see in the spirit and be able to discern. Whether we are praying on an individual or corporate level. 

Discernment - where and how do we get this discernment?  Are we expected to rely on the discernment that is made available to us as believers by the Holy Spirit, as is?  How do we tap into this discernment? And why, if the Lord gives this gift liberally and without favoritism, do some seem to always hit the nail on the head and some just can't seem to ever get it right? 

Ahh, the age old question.

I have heard soooo many answers to that question. Not one time have I ever been satisfied with an answer.  Until now.

One night on the way home from a prayer meeting, as I was mulling it over with the Lord. That's when all this started to come together.

I point blank asked the Lord why is there such a variance in the effectiveness of the prayers that are prayed by believers in the body of Messiah. Prayers that are prayed by true believers. Men and women of faith. Those that had walked with him for a long time and truly loved him, passionately. 

*I would see a certain person pray with all their heart and not see much fruit. I would also then see another person pray,  though few words were spoken, it was as if an arrow from the bow of the Lord himself had taken flight to accomplish the very task the person has prayed for.
This wasn't just a one time deal. I have seen this happen time and time again.
So I asked the Lord about it.

This was his answer,

"Amy, It's not just about  discernment. It's also about  direction."

He went on to explain in detail.

"Imagine the first the second and the third heavens.

The first heaven consists of the earth and the atmosphere where the clouds and the birds of the air reside.

The second heaven is where the sun, stars and moon are. This is also where the rulers, authorities, the principalities and powers and spiritual dark forces of this world reside.
The third heaven is the highest heaven. This is where I dwell and all my heavenly angels. The highest heaven.

Now imagine two believers of the same tribe. Both have been tried and tested and have been found faithful.

I have given both of them the right to choose weapons to battle in prayer against the spiritual forces in the heavenly places.

One of them chooses a high powered automatic machine gun. This believer will be warring from the first heaven.

The other believer chooses a bow and a quiver full of arrows. I have this believer come up to the third heaven to sit at my feet and await my instruction.”

Then the Lord asked the question

“Which one of these intercessors do you think will be  most effective?

The one praying from the first heaven shooting with great power and might? 
or

The one who is sitting at my feet who waits for my direct order before shooting their bow?”

Of course the answer was the one sitting at the feet of the LORD.

The believer shooting from the first heaven was simply shooting upwards ‘towards’ the second heaven. They are shooting into the battlefield blindly. 

They may or may not hit the intended target.

The Lord also pointed something out I had not ever thought about in this arena. 

This believer, while praying with good intention, but without  the ‘precise direction’ of the LORD, may also have unintended casualties. (This being caused from the machine gun-shooting wildly into the heavens. Cause and effect of prayers that have been prayed.)

  "For we know that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective." James 5:16 

"For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a  worldly way; because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God's power for demolishing strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:3,4)

  Our words hold power. Just because we know something, does not mean we are suppose to speak it forth.  This is using discernment.

Point

Both of these intercessors loved the Lord and had a heart to pray and further Gods kingdom. 

Both had a zeal to move on behalf of the Lord in HIS work.

What the Lord was making clear to me here was that the one believer that he took with Him to the third heaven had the one thing that the other believer was missing.

Direction from the Lord.

This is something that is available to everyone with out prejudice.

For the LORD loves all the same. 
He is no respecter of persons.

In fact, if we belong to Him, we are then seated with Him in the heavenly realm at the right hand of the Father. 

For we have been crucified with Jesus our Messiah by faith. (Galatians 2:20) and in so we now are alive in Him. He having ascending into the third heaven and remains seated at the right hand of the Father. High above every ruler, authority, power dominion or any other name that can be named either in this age or in the age to come.” 

Ephesians 1:21)

So how do we turn our machine guns in for a bow and arrow?

The answer is quite simple.

Come away with the LORD. Sit at his feet. Be quite and listen.

We need to get alone with God!

"Be still (desist from your activities) and know I am G-d." Psalm 46:11 CJB

Only THEN will we be the effective prayer warriors that we long and need to be.

How can we know what the heart of the Father IS? 

How can we go and do what he would have us go and do, if we can not hear His beautiful voice?

How will we recognize his beautiful voice if we never stop and sit and give him time to speak?

Speak Abba - speak. For your children are listening.

AmyColleen 🕊️