Prevailing Prayer: What Hinders It?

Are you tempted to give up on prayer when answers seem delayed? The Word of God and Prayer are the essential means of grace that sustain and grow our faith. This book focuses on prevailing in prayer—praying persistently and effectively in alignment with God’s will. With practical wisdom and encouragement, it challenges believers to keep seeking, asking, and knocking, trusting that prayer, grounded in Scripture, can “move the Arm that moves the world.”

Effective prayer involves adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and submission, aligning believers’ hearts with God’s will. By maintaining a steadfast prayer life, individuals can experience divine guidance, overcome challenges, and witness miraculous work in their lives and communities, making prayer the cornerstone of a vibrant and impactful spiritual journey.

The two primary and essential means of grace are the Word of God and prayer. Through these, conversion occurs: for we are born again by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever; and "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." These means of grace are also the foundation of our spiritual growth. We are exhorted to desire the pure milk of the Word so that we may grow by it. At the same time, we cannot grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ without speaking to Him in prayer. The Father sanctifies us through His Word, yet we are also instructed to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation. It is vital to use these two means of grace in proper balance. If we read the Word but do not pray, we risk becoming puffed up with knowledge, lacking the love that builds up. Conversely, if we pray but neglect the Word, we may remain ignorant of God's mind and will, becoming mystical, fanatical, and susceptible to being carried away by every wind of doctrine. The following chapters focus particularly on prayer. However, for our prayers to align with the will of God, they must be grounded in the revelation of His will through His Word. For "of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things." Only by hearing His Word, which reveals His purposes toward us and the world, can we pray acceptably—in the Holy Spirit—asking for those things that are pleasing in His sight. These addresses are not intended to be exhaustive but rather suggestive. Prayer has been the theme of prophets, apostles, and faithful believers throughout all ages. My purpose in presenting this little volume is to encourage God’s children to seek, through prayer, to “move the Arm that moves the world.” - D.L. Moody