Scripture teaches us ways to make our prayers powerful. We should always want our prayers to rise up to heaven with faith and devotion before the glory of the Lord. This post will help give you assurance from scripture that your prayers can be powerful both in your life and in the lives of others who are in need of your prayers
The Power of Prayer
Call to me, and I will answer you…Jeremiah 33:3a
I learned about the four ways to make your prayers powerful from Catholic author and spiritual warfare expert, Jesse Romero. Here is a talk he gave on the power of prayer.
#1 Live in a State of Grace
The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16
It says in the Bible, God will not listen to the prayers of someone who is living a sinful and unrighteous life. Sins of pride, covetousness, and lust battle against us.
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does His will, He listens to him. John 9:31
“Prayer and the sacraments protect us from sin. They are like a strong fortress against which the enemy strikes in vain, and within which the soul remains safe in the grace of God.” Source: A Manual of Religion My Catholic Faith A Catechism in Pictures
This isn’t just Way #1, this is the Bible’s wisdom for us all to consider:
The LORD is far from the wicked, but hears the prayer of the just. Proverbs 15:29
If you want your prayers to be powerful, go to confession regularly and live your life in a state of grace. The Bible says those who think they are without sin are deceived.
If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
#2 Pray from a Position of Authority
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus…rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. Mark 9:24-27
“Because evil spirits are extremely legalistic, they fixate on the issue of authority. It’s to our benefit to live within the Divine construct of authority.” Source: A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare by Kathleen Beckman
Examples of Spiritual Authority
Here are some examples to consider in the Divine construct of spiritual authority:
- The bishop prays for his diocesan families.
- The priest prays for his parish families.
- The husband prays (imprecatory prayers) for his wife.
- The wife prays (deprecatory prayers) for her husband.
- The father prays for his children.
- The mother prays for her children.
- The baptized prays for oneself.
Explanation of Deprecatory Prayers
Msgr. Stephen Rossetti: “Laity do have a deliverance ministry based upon their baptism and should indeed pray for demons to depart. But we recommend that they use what we call ‘deprecatory’ prayers. “Instead of addressing demons directly, we recommend that they direct their prayers to God (or Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or St. Michael) and ask them to cast out Satan. It is unwise for the laity to confront demons directly and certainly not to engage in any sort of questioning or conversation. Source: ChurchPOP
Levels of Spiritual Authority
Here are some levels of authority to consider in the Divine construct of authority:
- The bishop’s apostolic authority over his diocese
- The priest’s ordained authority over his parish
- Spousal authority (e.g. wife prays deprecatory prayers)
- Parental authority over their children
- Baptismal authority over oneself and temporal goods
The father’s prayer is powerful because he is praying to God from a position of authority he has as the father of his son. Even if you are not a father, mother, or a member of the ordained clergy of the Catholic Church, you can still pray from a powerful level of authority through your baptism in Christ.
Through Baptism the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in his own baptism anticipates his death and resurrection. CCC 537
#3 Your Prayer Has to be Specific
Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: “Oh, that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries! May your hand be with me and make me free of misfortune, without pain!” And God granted his prayer. 1 Chronicles 4:10
Per Catholic spiritual warfare expert, Jesse Romero, our prayers are powerful when our prayers are specific. There has to be intentionality with out prayers.
Matthew 7:7 Principle: “Ask, and You Will Receive.”
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
Precision is Everything in Spiritual Warfare
“Deliverance prayers are very effective. Precision prayers are what makes them very efficacious. Fr. Ripperger’s prayer book, there are specific prayers against Freemasonry, prayers against temptations, prayer against overcoming addictions. Deliverance prayers are highly effective in self deliverance, in relation to self as we have 100% authority over our will and intellect.” – Jesse Romero
#4 Be Persistent with Your Prayers
The Canaanite Woman’s Faith.
Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew
to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away,
…for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Matthew 15:21-28
The Canaanite Woman’s Prayer for Her Daughter
The Canaanite woman completes the 4 ways to make your prayers powerful:
1. She was in a state of grace (she was with Jesus!).
2. She prayed from a position of authority (mother of her child).
3. She was very specific with her prayer intention (heal my daughter).
4. She persisted in her prayer to Jesus about healing her daughter.
Persistence in Prayer
You can prove your faith in God through the persistence of your prayers just as the Canaanite woman did with Jesus in the aforementioned scripture passage.
Think again about what Jesus says in Matthew 7:7. He goes on to say in the next verse that everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Nine Day Novena Prayers Can Do Miracles
Be persistent with your prayer intentions with an enduring faith in Christ. If you need an answer on something specific, try praying a nine day rosary novena. You can make your prayer petition at the end of the rosary for each of the nine days.
“To spend much time in prayer is to knock with a persistent and holy fervor at the door of the One whom we beseech.” – St. Augustine
Closing Thoughts
Your prayers can be very powerful before the Lord if you want them to be. We have learned through the teaching of Sacred Scripture how to help make the most of them:
- Stay in a state of sanctifying grace (frequent the Church sacraments).
- Pray from a position of authority (example: your baptismal authority).
- Be specific with your prayers (precision makes your prayers more effective).
- Be persistent with your prayers (prove your faith to God with your persistence).
Catholic Spiritual Warfare
Most of the information in this post I have learned from Catholic spiritual warfare experts such as Jesse Romero, Kyle Clement, and Dan Schneider. May God bless them for their ministry. I have also followed exorcists who teach Catholic spiritual warfare such as Fr. Chad Ripperger, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, and Fr. Vincent Lampert.
Catholic Exorcists
- Fr. Vincent Lampert: Teaching Ministry of the Power of God
- Fr. Chad Ripperger: Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother
- Msgr. Stephen Rossetti: St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal
Catholic Spiritual Warfare Experts
- Kyle Clement: Monte Christo Spiritual Warfare
- Jesse Romero: Jesse Romero Blog
- Dr. Dan Schneider: Liber Christo Ministry of Liberation
The Warfare of Christ
We Catholics are Called by Christ to Pray and do Battle with Him +
But in Confirmation these three things are chiefly to be noted: the divine power which, as a principal cause, operates in the Sacrament; the strength of mind and soul which is imparted by the sacred unction to the faithful unto salvation; and finally, the sign impressed on him who is to enter upon the warfare of Christ. Source: Catechism of the Council of Trent
