Prayer can be described as the divine communication between God and man. It is one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. However, there is a certain established pattern of prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ clearly stated in Matthew 6:7-15.

When an individual deviates from this pattern of communion with God, such requests may not be expressly answered. It is a standard that must be followed to the letter if we want our request to manifest itself physically.

Chorus of using vain repetitions

Some people can often mistake fellowship with God for fun. Thus they approach prayers with an attitude of invoking the name of God in vain repetitions without acknowledging his unique personality. This is definitely the pattern of unbelievers and not God’s.

Praise and worship God

Before you take your petition to the throne of the Almighty, courtesy demands that you appreciate him for all he has done for you in the past, what he will do in the future, and what he will do in the future. Adoration and praise are key factors that open the windows of heaven in favor of the children of God.

Pray according to God’s will

When an individual makes a request that is outside of God’s will, the possibility of God responding to such a request is very remote. The main reason why one should pray according to God’s will is to avoid selfishness and greed. Therefore, it is essential that one identify God’s will regarding an issue before turning to God in prayer.

When Jesus Christ was about to be delivered in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed a simple prayer: “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass over me, but not my will, but yours.”

Be specific in your request

The more specific we are in our request to God, the greater the chance that said request will be answered. Hannah was in desperate need of a child when she had the opportunity to enter God’s presence, she specifically asked for a son and God heard her cry.

ask forgiveness of sins

A sinner’s prayer is an abomination to God; therefore, we must ask God to cleanse our hearts of any iniquity as we approach his holy throne. Unconfessed sins will create a barrier for our prayers to be answered by Almighty God. Forgiveness is a two way thing. First of all, we ask God to forgive us our sins, and also to forgive those who have wronged us. Failure to follow this instruction can be very disastrous, as some people have often found out.