In order to have an effective prayer life Scripture teaches that there are certain prerequisites.  Among them:

1. Relationship

We must have a relationship with God the Father, which comes only through a relationship with Jesus. (John 14.6)  The preface to the Lord’s Prayer makes a distinction between those who have a right to call God Father and Hypocrites (those who claim the name but have no real interest in or connection with God), and Pagans (those who worship the things of the earth: Nature, self, etc.).  Only those who are Children of God are promised that their prayers will be heard. (See Matthew 6.5-9)

2. Reflection

It is required that we come with some understanding of who God is, and who we are; that God is Holy and Almighty, and we sinners and needy.

3. Righteousness

James 5.16 tells us that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.  There must be some elelment of righteounsess in our lives.

Righteousness defined is: right actions motivated by genuine faith.  Both components are necessary.  Faith comes first, as a gracious gift from God.  It is not something we muster, but receive.  But our faith, if it is genuine, will express itself through outward behaviors.  These behaviors themselves merit us nothing, but are evidences of Faith; they are evidences of a relationship with the Father.

Conclusion

There are requirements in prayer, such as asking, and asking for right things in accordance with God’s Will, and asking with right motives.  But those are not what this post is about.  This post addresses some prerequisites, conditions of our lives enabling us to pray effectively.

The first of these three prerequisites is enduring, it does not change back and forth.  (However, if one does not have a relaionship with God through Jesus, that status can be changed.  But once changed, God does not forget those whom he knows.  John 10.28-29) 

The last two can change somewhat.  While we are not likely to “un-know” what we know; and once declared righteous by God through faith in Christ (see Galatians 3.6) we do not loose that status, there are actual or functional aspects to both Faith and Righteousness.  Reflection is the exercise of Faith, which like a muscle needs to be used to be strengthened, otherwise it may experience something like atrophy.  Righteousness is the active living out our faith. 

If our prayer lives are dull or ineffective, we would do well to examine if we are negligent in either of these areas.