Naturally, I’m assuming prayer works and that we understand what it is, so stepping over those questions, why does prayer work?

• Does it work because of the words we use or the way we pray? Do select terms or phrases give our prayers a power they wouldn’t have without them?
• Is it the passion we put into it? If we work ourselves up, do our prayers ring louder in heaven?
• If we repeat our prayers often, does that increase their priority in heaven?
• Does prayer work because we mention specifics instead of generalities?
• Does it work when we have removed every trace of doubt that God will answer?
• Or is it when we approach the Lord in personal righteousness, confident he is pleased with us and will hear us?

I don’t believe prayer works for any of those reasons. It works only because our Heavenly Father is sovereign over all heaven and earth. “For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27 NIV)

When the Lord teaches us to pray in Luke 11, does he spell out conditions for being heard like word choice or emotions? No, he calls us to be bold and honest. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find it. It is the Lord Almighty who saves, who makes leaders, who comforts, who convicts.

We have no reason to hedge our bets in prayer, because the Lord will do what he will do. We have no reason to fear that our prayers are not heard or that we are unworthy to pray at all. Our prayers are always heard, and we are worthy to offer them only by the saving work of the Lord Jesus. Praise his name! So pray boldly. Our prayers work because he works in them, not because we have anything to offer.

I like to think Paul is praying for us, when he writes in Ephesians 1:18-23 (NIV):

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.