This question attracted few candidates and most of these candidates mentioned the different types of prayers instead of the requirements of effective prayers such as repentance, humility, belief and steadfastness. This made them to lose good marks. Candidates should have responded to the question thus:
(a) EFFECTIVE PRAYERS (JAMES 1:2 – 8, 5:13 – 18)
- James encouraged Christians to be joyful when they face various trials
for it is a test of faith, while faith produces steadfastness.
- He said that steadfastness should have its full effect so that they might
be perfect and lack nothing;
- If anyone lacks wisdom, he should pray to God who gives generously
and without reproach.
- James said that Christians must repent of their sins and confess them to
one another; for God is holy, and does not tolerate sin;
- Prayers must be made in faith without doubting, for the doubter will
receive nothing;
- He compared anyone who doubts with a wave of the sea that is driven
and tossed by the wind.
- Any petition made to God must be backed by belief that God would
grant the requests;
- God is glorified when people pray for the right things; thus prayers
should be made according to the will of God;
- Christians should exercise patience by waiting upon the will and the
grace of God;
- They must pray in humility for their prayers to be effective;
- They should also be persistent in prayer by praying unceasingly till
their requests are met;
- James taught that the fervent prayer of the righteous had great effect;
- He gave an example of Elijah who prayed fervently that there should not be rain and there was no rain. He prayed again, and there was rain.
- James advised that the elders of the Church should be called upon to
pray for the sick.
- He taught that the prayer of faith would save the sick.
(b) REASONS FOR UNANSWERED PRAYER
- Doublemindedness in prayer/unbelief/lack of faith;
- Unforgiving spirit on the part of the person praying;
- Lack of concentration;
- Unconfessed sins/keeping sins in the heart;
- Asking for things not according to the will of God;
- Lack of consistency
- Arrogance
- Lack of wisdom
- Selfishness
