David Diga Hernandez - How to Pray with Power: 3 SIMPLE Keys

Have you ever wondered if you’re praying correctly, the Biblical way? In this simple yet profound message, David Diga Hernandez gives you three simple keys that you can apply immediately to increase the effectiveness of your prayers. Learn to finally overcome distraction and doubt, as you begin to pray with power.

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So, I want to give you three keys to praying with power. The first key, number one, is focus. If prayer is to be effective, it must be focused. The wandering mind keeps the believer bound to the natural realm. The excess of distracting thoughts is too heavy to allow for heavenly ascension. When you go to pray, you’ll notice that there is a flurry of distracting thoughts. Perhaps you wonder about the responsibilities of your day. Perhaps you think about trouble at work. Maybe there’s trouble in your family. Perhaps you made some mistakes in the previous days and you’re ridden with guilt, making it hard to focus your mind on the things of God. Well, I want to give you some keys to focusing when you pray. The first key to focusing is silence. In Matthew chapter 6, verse 6, the Bible says, «But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.» Now, this is a practical but effective means to empower your prayer. This is something that Jesus talked about for a reason. You and I are so easily distracted by everyday life, so when I talk to you about silence, I’m talking about putting away the things that distract you in the exterior or in the earthly realm. These include things like turning off your cell phone, turning off the television, or telling your friends that you’re unavailable for at least an hour or two. Distraction can destroy the focus of prayer, and when you go to a place of silence, you are helping to cultivate an atmosphere where you can better focus on the things of God. Another key to focus is the prayer request. Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 through 7 say, «Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.» Now, there’s this negative view of the prayer request. You’ve probably heard preachers say things like, «Don’t just ask God for things; you need to spend time with the Lord.» Or, «Don’t just ask God for a list of things that you want; you need to be grateful.» While I understand that we should also seek His heart in addition to His hand, the Bible does make it clear that we are given the power of the prayer request for a purpose. Look at this in Philippians 4:6-7. Let’s break this down. «Don’t worry about anything.» That means what it says: don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. This first and foremost tells me that worry is the flesh’s powerless counterfeit for prayer. Instead, pray about everything. Now, watch this: «Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.» This shows me that I’m able to ask God for things while also thanking Him. Therefore, asking God for something does not negate my gratitude. This is actually proof that I can pray for more while being thankful for what I have. Now, watch this: «Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.» So, this peace that we receive comes about as a result of the prayer request. The prayer request is one of the means by which we receive peace, and with that peace of mind, I’m able to focus. So think about it like this: You’re carrying a bag, and your bag is full of all your worries, doubts, and fears, which distract you from praying. You don’t know what you should pray because you can’t even focus on the prayer itself. When I give God my prayer request, I’m removing the bag and handing it to Him. Therefore, when I go to ascend the mountain of God, I’m not trying to ascend the mountain with burdens over my shoulder; rather, I’ve given those to God, and now God is able to speak to me. Not that He wasn’t speaking before, but now I’m able to listen with a heart and a mind filled with peace. You’re unburdening yourself; you’re giving Him your concerns. You’re giving Him, so to speak, a checklist and trusting that He will take care of those needs. Then, I don’t have to worry about those things. Once I’ve placed them in God’s hands, I no longer have to worry, and that floods me with peace. «Then you will experience God’s peace.» When? After I tell Him what I need, after I make that prayer request. So, the prayer request isn’t some evil thing. Now, here’s where many people make the mistake with the prayer request: They come and they ask God for something, they feel the peace flood their heart, the peace floods their mind, and then they go, «Ah, thank you, Lord, for that peace! I’ll see You later!» and then they walk out of the prayer room. Here’s the problem: The peace that God gives you is not the conclusion of prayer; it’s the entryway. Peace is not the conclusion of prayer; it’s the entryway. Once I’ve received that peace, now I can ascend the mountain of God. Once I receive that peace, now I can focus on praying and seeking the face of God. So, I’m saying the first key is focus. The way you focus is through silence, through the prayer request, and also through worship. Isaiah chapter 26, verse 3, says, «Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee.» Worship is the key to a still mind when my mind is focused.