The other day, my daughter complained about her eyes; I guess it was after a bathe experience. As I would normally do, I laid my hands on the eyes to pray. While praying I said; “Father, let this hand not pain my daughter again in Jesus name.” My daughter interrupted the prayer; “No, Daddy. It’s not my hand, it’s my eyes.” Her interruption taught me a lesson.

Friend, what’s your understanding and attitude about prayer? Do you see it as a mere religious exercise or something poweful enough to bring results to your life? Do you just mutter words without actually meaning them or knowing what you are praying about? Like my daughter, are you specific in prayers? Do you really know what you want?

Prayer begins when desire is established (Mark 11:24). Most prayers are not answered because they are not wrapped in strong desire. Desires are powerful. Desires in prayers are what get the attention of God, not just the gymnastics. Desires speak to the state of your heart while praying. You can be praying about something with your lips while your heart is saying something else.

God hears what is in your heart more than what is on your lips; your heart speaks louder than your mouth (1 Samuel 2:3). The goal of prayer is to be able to align our heart with our mouth. You cannot pray effectively when your heart is not involved (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 30:21).

Until you get your heart to align with your mouth, you have not started praying (Jeremiah 30:21). Like Hannah, God wants you to pour your heart to Him (1 Samuel 1:15, Psalms 62:8). He wants you to be intentional about what you are asking. You can pray with your heart without your mouth and still get result. But you cannot get result when you pray with your mouth without your heart.

Any prayer that does not move you cannot move God, the devil or your circumstances (Luke 18:5-8). There is a posture you take in prayers that makes God know that you are dead serious about what you are asking. Knowing what you want in prayers helps you to recognize the answer when it shows up. What are your prayer points today? Are they products of a strong desire in God’s will or just mere wishes?

‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria