Four Powerful Attitudes in Prayer that Yield Results

Pray like the Psalmist David with these four powerful attitudes in prayer that WILL yield results.


Do you struggle in your prayer life?  Not just in making time for prayer or trying to avoid distractions in prayer, but do you struggle with how to pray?  I believe that the Psalmist King David demonstrates four powerful attitudes in prayer that yield results.

First Powerful Attitude in Prayer - Boldness

Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, 
that we may receive mercy, 
and may find grace to help us in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

When you pray to the Lord, do you tend to pray with words like "please", "could you", "if it's your will"?  I do, and I'm guessing I'm not alone in this.  To give ourselves Grace, we are praying to God Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth after all!  

Yet words like "please' "could you" or anything prefaced with "if", does not sound like bold, believing prayer, but doubting prayer.  

To clarify, as Believers, we certainly should be praying for God's will in a situation, but I believe we can pray for God's will boldly just as David did in the following verses from Psalm 55...

Give ear to my prayer, O God,
and hide not yourself from my pleas for mercy!
Attend to me, and answer me; 
Psalm 55 1-2a

David is boldly calling God into action by using action words!  He is not praying demandingly or selfishly, but praying according to the promises of God's Word which could not be more in God's will!


For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, 
1 Peter 3:12a

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
Psalm 139:1-4

“Before they call I will answer; 
while they are still speaking I will hear.”
Isaiah 65:24

When we pray boldly to the Lord, those prayers will indeed yield results.  

Second Powerful Attitude in Prayer - Honesty

Do you feel intimidated to really tell God how you feel; to allow whatever frustrations, resentments, concerns, worries, selfishness or whatever you're feeling in the matter of prayer to be detailed to the Lord in all honesty?

If you're like me, you might be ashamed about how you are feeling and not want to articulate that to the Lord.

But can I tell you, He can take it!  He wants our prayers to be honest so that He can address them lovingly.  

David demonstrates this as we continue in Psalm 55...

My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, "Oh, that I  had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
yes, I would wander far away; 
I would lodge in the wilderness;
I would hurry to find a shelter 
from t he raging wind and tempest"
Psalm 55:4-8

Here we see David praying honestly about his feelings.  Telling the Lord that he is afraid and not only that, he wants to run away from his troubles!  I think David and I would get along!  ;-)

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; 
he delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4

When we adopt an attitude of honesty in prayer it will yield wonderful results.

Third Powerful Attitude in Prayer - Authority

You might be thinking, whoa Karen, I think you've gone a little too far with this attitude.  

Here's the thing, there are many matters of prayer that we CAN pray with authority.   Such as praying to the Lord that a sinful bent or desire be destroyed in yourself and/or in someone else; that a lie you are believing that is contrary to Scripture be eradicated from your mind; that Truth be proclaimed to all those that do not know Christ, just to name a few...

David demonstrates praying with authority in the following verses...

Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues;
for I see violence and strife in the city. 
Day and night they go around it
on its walls,
and iniquity and trouble are within it; 
ruin is in the midsts;
oppression and fraud
do not depart from its marketplace.
Psalm 55:9-11

When we pray with authority over that which is contrary to God, it will yield results.

Fourth Powerful Attitude in Prayer - Expectant

Going back to my "if" statements earlier in the post, I'm speaking for myself here, but too often I pray boldly and expectantly for others, but for myself, not so much...

Think back to when you were a child, when you needed something for comfort, for sustenance, for direction, you would ask your mother or father, and you expected that they would provide for what you needed, never doubting.  Those things that were not frivolous or materialistic or selfish, but those things that would be of benefit to you and indeed were gladly given to you by your parents.

In the same attitude, we can come to our Heavenly Father in prayer, expecting that He will answer.  He will not withhold any good thing from His children.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; 
The LORD gives grace and glory; 
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11

David demonstrates this expectant attitude in prayer in the following verses...

But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.

Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.

He redeems my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.

God will give ear and humble them,
he who is enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not change
and do not fear God.
Psalm 55:16-19

Here we see the culmination of David's prayer in Psalm 55 - the expectant attitude that ALL that He boldly, honestly, authoritatively and expectantly prays for WILL be answered.

For more posts about prayer please checkout the following by clicking the titles:






When Jesus died on the cross at which time the veil of the temple was torn, we gained full access to the Lord without fear of coming to Him in prayer boldly, honestly, authoritatively and expectantly for He is waiting to yield results for us above and beyond what we hope or expected.



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Comments

  1. Dear Karen, thank you for reminders of attitudes in prayer that bear fruit. David is such a great model of how we can pray. What I was struck by as I read his prayers throughout the Psalms is the intimacy with which he prayed. Boldness, honesty... can only be achieved when we seek and trust in an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. Thanks for the gentle nudge. Blessings!

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    1. Hi Alice, You are very welcome!

      You are absolutely right! Thanks so much for adding to the conversation. I appreciate it so much.

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

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  2. Thank you for this post. I am going to work on praying with authority this week. Maree

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    1. Hi Maree, You are very welcome! :-)

      Just as the Lord does, I have had circumstances come up this week that called for authoritative prayer. He is so faithful.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  3. This is such a great post with so many helpful verses! Reading David's prayers always helps me pour out my heart to the Lord. He is such a great example of demonstrating all you discuss regarding prayer. Thanks so much for sharing!

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    1. Hi Cheryl, Thanks so much for your kind words. :-)

      You are very welcome.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  4. Oh, praise God that the veil was rent in twain, and we now have that full access to our Heavenly Father!!! Aren't you thankful we live in the dispensation of grace, and we do not have to just worship God from afar off? That must have been so frustrating for those saints of old who were held sort of held at arms' length, who could only see this precious communion from a distance. I LOVE what you said about praying with authority. I do not think that is wrong at all. The other day I was praying and begging for something and the Lord said to me, "You do not have to beg for what I have already promised you!" Oh, Karen! If I could ever learn to live that way—just assuming that what God has promised He is able also to perform. Not only is He able to perform it, what He has promised He WILL give to us. Why do I continue to doubt Him like I do, always living in suspicion of Him and viewing Him as I would view humans who have failed me? This post was so convicting and edifying to me, and I can't thank you enough for your faithfulness to the call of God on your life. Many blessings and much love and gratitude to you, sweet friend!

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    1. Hi Cheryl, Indeed! And Amen!

      I LOVE this! "You do not have to beg for what I have already promised you!" Thank you so much for sharing that!

      Oh Sweet Friend, I am right there with you as I can have doubts instead of holding on to God's promises.

      Thank you so much for always leaving encouraging comments that spur me on to continue in this ministry. You are such a blessing dear friend.

      Sending you love and blessings. :-)

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  5. Thanks for these points. I do feel I pray boldly, honestly and expectantly, but maybe not with authority. You've given me lots to think on!

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    1. Hi Jerralea, You are welcome!

      Praise God!

      Thanks for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  6. I love how you backed your points up with relevant Scripture! Great post! Prayer is so important. It's the most underutilized tool in our Christian tool belt.

    Pinned.

    Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!

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    1. Hi Patsy, Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them!

      Oh that is so true. It is the most underutilized tool in our Christian tool belt and I am all too guilty of this very thing.

      Thanks so much for pinning.

      You are very welcome!

      Delete
  7. I'm so grateful we can be honest with God ... no smoke and mirrors, no dancing around, no masks. He already knows our hearts and loves us just the same. What a wonderful Savior!

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    1. Hi Linda, Amen!

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  8. Honesty with God is something we don't teach our young ones enough. I can think of so many people who left the church and God because they got mad at him and didn't think he could handle it :/

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    1. Hi Anita, That is such a good point! Thanks for sharing.

      And thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete
  9. What a wonderful post. I'm very guilty of all 4 of these things, especially praying "if..." And "please...". I appreciate you showing me that I can pray boldly. Thanks so much for linking up with Grace and Truth this week!

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    1. Hi Valerie, Thank you so much for your very kind words. I appreciate them!

      You are very welcome!

      Thanks for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  10. What a nice reminder that we can speak truthfully and boldly as David did when we go to God in prayer. Blessings to you for a great week ahead.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Peabea!

      Thanks so much for taking the time to comment each week. It means a lot!

      Wishing you a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving.

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