There is no formula for powerful praying. Prayer is a mysterious action of the Holy Spirit, and our attempts to define it fall short. Even if your words are stumbling and weak, know that "The prayer of the upright is God's delight." See Romans 8:26; and Proverbs 15:8, KJV.

With this assurance, here are six action steps for powerful praying that can help bring even more of God's delight into your prayers. . . .

Ask. Those who approach spiritual life on a largely rational basis may stumble over this, but yes, God does more when we ask him to do more, and less when we fail to ask. The mission of salvation rested on the condition that the Son would pray, and from the King receive his power. Psalm 2:7, 8. Heaven's blessings of forgiveness and healing are based on a condition —"If my people . . . will humble themselves and pray." 2 Chronicles 7:14. The alternative to asking is assuming; joy comes through asking.

Believe. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22. It is believing when we ask, that brings God's blessings. "When he asks, he must believe and not doubt." James 1:6. This is faith, and faith is best understood in terms of quality rather than quantity. Faith is not a substance manufactured, but a relationship that grows. It is childlike trust in a great God; resting in God and taking him at his word. "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24, KJV. These words of a sick boy's father may be the finest expression of faith in all the scriptures.

Claim. This word reminds us of homesteaders who chose a piece of land and settled on it, and of miners who staked their claim on a site. To claim a promise of God is to take personal possession of it, to express it before God and then make it your own by faith. Daniel's prayer recorded in Daniel 9 gives an excellent example. Daniel reviews God's promise and actions, and then prays, "O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay." He prays with humble and holy assertiveness—he "stakes a claim". When this step is firmly based on the Word, it brings amazing results.

Agree. Jesus taught that when church members and believers unite in prayer and "agree" about what they ask the Father, there comes a unique level of power to bind evil and unleash Heaven's blessings. See Matthew 18:18, 19. The first Christians "all joined together constantly in prayer". Acts 1:14. When Peter was in prison, "the church was earnestly praying to God for him". Acts 12:5. No wonder the Spirit was powerful among the early believers! So pray in private, but also find others with whom to establish a meaningful fellowship in prayer.

Adore. How often our prayers are dominated with petition, and practically devoid of praise. "Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." Hebrews 13:15. Adoration of God is not so much for his sake as for ours. It is the best therapy possible for our dark times! It is a miracle of the Spirit that brings Heaven's healing for our minds, emotions and bodies. Following the examples of Daniel, King David, the apostles, and many others, place every prayer request in a window of praise, and see the power flow.

Relinquish. This is a powerful word that means "leave behind, give up, give over, stop holding on to, release, yield, commit, deposit, surrender". The meaning is illustrated in Paul's touching farewell to church leaders: "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace." Acts 20:32. Sometimes in our prayers we worry over issues or people. Instead, pray "Lord, this challenge is too big for me. It is beyond my wisdom and power. I therefore relinquish this issue, this person, entirely to you. I give this all over to you, and by faith accept that you are now 100 per cent in charge of it, for your glory and for the greatest blessing possible."

Ask, believe, claim, agree, adore, relinquish—action steps for powerful praying. Will you put them into practice, beginning now?

This article first appeared in modified form in Mid-America Outlook, January 2006. Copyright © 2009 by Ed Gallagher (South Pacific edition). / Except where otherwise indicated, scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.