“Praying always” (Ephesians 6:18)

Before you were saved, you prayed when you got into trouble. You knew God could change things, so even though you felt guilty about many things, you thought perhaps God would exempt you from the consequences of your rebellion if you begged Him for mercy. Your prayers followed a predictable pattern. “If You could just do this one thing, I’ll try to do better”. Your god was a Pez machine, not the God of the Bible. 

 Then God saved you. Now the indwelling Holy Spirit bears witness with your conscience (Romans 9:1), and you know your requests only have a possibility of being granted if they don’t violate your conscience (Romans 2:15). You agree with the Apostle Paul, “I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:16). 

 Over time, you’ve learned from the Bible and personal experience what’s pleasing to God (Hebrews 5:14), and have a good sense of what requests are likely, or at least possible to be granted. Now you understand what the Apostle James was talking about when he equated effective prayer with knowing and doing the will of God. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways: (James 1:5-8). 

 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16), but make sure the Holy Spirit bears witness with your conscience when you ask God for things. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22).