WEST COAST BAPTIST COLLEGE

EFFECTIVE PRAYER REVIEW

A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO

DR. JIM SCHETTLER

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE

PT 512

SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND DISCIPLESHIP

BY

JOSELLE JAE JUROLAN

LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA

APRIL 2. 2018
 One thing that every Christian needs to improve in our spiritual life is prayer. This book of

Effective Prayer by J. Oswald Sanders is a great guide to improve the important part in our relationship

with God. Sanders idea about prayer is that ​it is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try, yet the

sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high. Is as appropriate to the aged philosopher as to the little

child. Is it the expression of the rest of faith and of the fight of faith​. Prayer is relatively easy to do that

even a little kid can do it, yet it is also difficult to do it because it is going against our sinful nature.

The book gave so much conviction to deepen my prayer life and use it as my first response

instead of using it as a last resort. Personally, my prayer life is like a roller coaster. It is never consistent.

It is either mediocre, unfocused, unreal, rushed or “same old, same old” type of prayer. It is my greatest

weakness with the following:

1. Time and Discipline

The time we spend in prayer will depend on the way in which we allocate our priorities.​ I do

believe that I need to talk with God daily,​ but ​I often yield to the calls of the to-do list or

sleep or a thousand other less important things. I try to create my own plan, but it seems

that I prioritize my studies, my work and my other activities than prayer. However, my

busy schedule can never be an excuse because ​each of us has as much time as anyone

else in the world​. Most of the time, I become so focused with the things I need to get

done and forgetting that I would not be able to do everything without prayer and God’s

strength. Insuffi​cient time is a much overworked excuse for neglect of duty. And yet,

strangely enough, even in the midst of an exacting routine we always contrive to find time

for all we urgently want to do. In reality, the fundamental problem lies not in the time

factor, but in the realm of will and desire. We each have all the time there is, and we each

choose our own priorities. We automatically place first that which we deem most
 important. If prayer is meager it is because we consider it supplemental, not

fundamental. ​It is always best to make prayer as a habit by adopting a plan and making it

as part of our life like how we eat, drink and sleep. ​Through disciplined habit, unceasing

prayer had become almost instinctive, as natural as breathing. To the Spirit-indwelt heart

every occurrence, every occasion, becomes the inspiration of prayer.

2. Stillness and Quietness

Prayer is not pious reveries: it is spiritual warfare​. Satan uses so many things around us that

would keep us from praying. As a student, living in the dormitory with roommates do not help me

to focus when I talk to God. I am not comfortable praying with people coming in and out of the

room with noises and laughter in the hallway. Yes, we have a prayer room, but it can never be a

private room for there are students in the dorm that would need to use it, too.​ On the other hand,

this generation is bombarding us ​with entertainment, gadgets, social media, and more.

These are all great distractions that would take away my time to prioritize prayer and

listening to God’s voice. It has always been a struggle, but I have to be purposeful in

keeping my gadgets closed, and let my heart and mind tuned in to God.

3. Heart Problem

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.​ This heart problem I have is

not about my health, but about the sin that I do not want to let go and surrender. I used to

struggle so much with obedience, but prayer requires obedience to God and to the

authority. ​Another prolific cause of defeat in the prayer life is a secret sympathy with sin.

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18) ​Moreover,

this has led me to a realization that we have to strive to keep our hearts right with God.

He does not listen nor answer a prayer that is stale. He wants our hearts full of zeal and
 enthusiasm in prayer. ​Half hearted asking comes away empty-handed. Lukewarm in

prayer as in everything else is revolting to God Shameless persistence, an urgency which

will not be denied, and returns with the desired boon in its hands.

Throughout these struggles that I face daily in prayer, I am grateful how this book

incredibly reminded me that this a privilege as Christian to have access to God wherever and

whenever. It also reminded me that prayer is a weapon against our enemy. ​Satan dreads nothing

but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless

studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toils, mocks our wisdom, but

trembles when we pray. ​Satan is never happy when we pray, and when I do not give time for

prayer, I am also allowing myself to give the enemy the victory. This battle is something that I

need to win daily. ​Between God and the devil, the god of this world, stands the praying man. ​On

the other hand, prayer is what we need when life seems tough and crazy. Worldly advices

including “positive thinking,” “self- esteem,” or “law of attraction” would say that good things

will come back to you if you would release a positive energy to the universe. ​These beliefs are

from the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from "pure energy", and that through

the process of "like energy attracting like energy" a person can improve their own health, wealth

and personal relationships.1 However, there is nothing more powerful in this earth, but prayer

alone. ​Prayer is a force as real as terrestrial gravity… it is the only power in the world that

seems to overcome the so-called laws of nature.

1
​Redden, Guy, "Magic Happens: A New Age Metaphysical Mystery Tour", ​Journal of Australian Studies​: 101