PRAYING WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD OF GOD

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14).

Often we hear that “Knowledge is power” but that is simply not true. It is the “application of knowledge that is power” thus when we pray we must first have knowledge of the word of God, and in applying the word during prayer, we are simply focusing on the word, believing on what it says, bringing to memory those things we have read in the word and using them as our weapon while praying. For example, you might be praying about a situation of concern and hear something evil within your heart or somehow the thought of unbelief came into your mind. Know that it is not the prayer you are praying at the time that will flush that evil thought out or refocusing your mind on Jesus, it is the knowledge of the word of God and the application of that knowledge to that arrow shot against your mind that will immediately flush it out. So if you don’t know the word, you can’t possibly win in this battle. There are so many other ways that the knowledge of the word of God helps us triumph.

It’s important to pray, but your praying wouldn’t be effective if you don’t know the Word of God. If you’re not properly grounded in God’s Word, you would only know to pray religious prayers and prayers borne out of unbelief. Praying without knowledge is the reason for seemingly ineffective prayers.

The Bible says “through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 19:11b); it didn’t say through prayer, though prayer is very important to the Christian. Understand that you are what you know. The immeasurable blessings and provisions of God become a vital reality in your life when you know them and begin to proclaim them in prayer.

Your prayer becomes effective in the realm of the spirit when knowledge is applied. And I’m not talking about head-knowledge or the knowledge of arts and sciences; I’m referring to the knowledge of God’s Word. Praying according to the Word of God is the prayer that works; not just any prayer. Anybody can pray. In the different religions of the world, they do pray. But that you prayed doesn’t mean God heard you. God only hears those who pray in accordance with His will as revealed in His Word.