Is prayer’s power only for super-Christians?
Suppose that being a “super-Christian” or “super-spiritual” was essential for effective prayer. Then the super-Christian’s faith might be in himself—faith in his own dedication, faith in his deep spirituality, faith in his many sacrifices. Such a person resembles the Pharisee who presented to God his fine credentials as a model believer (Luke 18:11-12). Jesus exposed the Pharisee’s pride, and warned us, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). Today’s self-proclaimed prayer experts focus most on themselves. In a way, their faith is in their own faith. They claim that the key to effective prayer is the amazing level of faith they bring to prayer.
In contrast, the Bible emphasizes what God brings to prayer. That is because, even at our best, we are not good enough for prayer. Whatever we alone bring is tainted by sin that repels God in His perfect purity and holiness.
Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear (Isaiah 59:2).
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment (Isaiah 64:6).
What we need for effective prayer—or any prayer at all—is forgiveness, the removal of our sins. For that, we need Jesus (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:77; 5:20-24; 7:48; 1 Timothy 1:15). We need His body and His blood as the sacrifice that pays the penalty for our sins and thus provides us full forgiveness.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28).
The key to effective prayer is what Jesus has done for us. He is both the Priest who mediates for us and the sacrifice that opens the way into God’s presence.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Our confidence is not ourselves—our fantastic performance, our great faith. Rather, the source of our confidence is the sacrifice and mediation of Jesus. We approach God with the “full assurance of faith” because we come through Jesus or in His name.
In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).