Ladder of Prayer:

A persisting prayer life may seem to you an unattainable goal. You are poised piously at the bottom of the ladder looking up…up…up…to that rung high above––you know, the one that is closer to God than you’ve ever been before. You want to get there so badly, but you wonder how you’ll ever climb that high without falling.

Your intentions are noble, and we share them entirely. We too wring our hands in frustration when we cannot summon the desire for––or establish a commitment to––meaningful prayer. The great thing is, a meaningful prayer life is not as far-reaching as it seems. It is just that somewhere along the way in our Pentecostal tradition the concept of prayer became rigidly complicated. But guess what? There is no secret password for entry to life as a prayer warrior, no special entrance or top secret code. In fact, true prayer embodies a much simpler image. Dr. Lamar Vest, General overseer of the Church of God said, “God wants us to be relaxed and comfortable in His presence.”

What? Relaxed and comfortable? Of course that doesn’t seem like the picture of prayer you have in your head. But it is the picture that Christ wants to give us of prayer. It is the picture of Mary of Bethany sitting at the feet of Jesus in Luke 10. It is the picture of a relationship. That is what God desires. And the more we spend time with Him, the more relaxed we become in His presence. We can realize that He already knows our true self, all the good and all the bad. We don’t have to hide anything since He already knows our heart (1 John 3:20).

But we all need direction sometime, or maybe a spark of motivation. So here’s some kindling to help you get the fire started. In the October 1988 issue of the Church of God Evangel, J.E. Devore’s article, “The Ladder of Prayer” presents a four rung ladder to a more consistent prayer life. Not too bad, right? Only four rungs! So, step up and start praying!

Step 1: Communion

I am the vine and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
John 15:1-7

We said before that God is concerned with the relationship we have with him. The most important aspect of prayer is that it brings us near to God. It is a vital branch that keeps us attached “to the vine,”our very life source. We need the nourishment and strength of the vine in order to survive and bear fruit.

Step 2: Petition/Supplication

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6

Coming to the Lord with our needs in faith without doubting is easier said than done. For there are times we come in faith––or think we do––but we still harbor some doubt. When you pray, do what the disciples did, ask the Lord to increase your faith (Luke 17:5), and God will!

Step 3: Praise

We should spend time in praising God. Prayer brings revival. Praise brings power. It is my opinion that more praise and less petition would bring more victories. They (the Calvary victories of Christ) are already registered in glory. It is time well-spent to praise God the Son for the victories He has won for us. We surely have much to praise God for; so the next time you feel a bit discouraged, depressed, downhearted, just spend some time in praising Him
J.E. Devore

That just about says it all!

Step 4: Intercession

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men.
1 Timothy 2:1

“Intercession” is a very trendy buzzword in Pentecostal circles, but what truly is intercession? Webster defines “intercession” as “prayer, petition, or, entreaty on behalf of another”, it is “intervening between parties with a view to reconciling differences.” Because of our sin, humanity had no access to the presence of a Most Holy God (remember the old covenant with Israel, how only one man––the high priest––could enter into the Holy of Holies?). But Christ became our intercession with His work at the cross. As we see in the book of Hebrews, Jesus Christ became the high priest in a new covenant––a covenant of grace––and he now intervenes on our behalf.

Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25

Now God calls His Bride––the body of believers––to intercede for each other. We are commanded to intervene for the needs of others. What a responsibility to muster faith not only for our own needs, but also for the needs of others. It is a task too great to handle on our own. This is why Jesus sent His Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26-27: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” The gift of tongues is a powerful tool in praying for others because it allows the Holy Spirit to take over and pray through us. This won’t be easy all the time. In fact, there will be many times you’ll feel too weary. Print this out, put it on your mirror, or in your Bible or prayer journal. And let the Holy Spirit take over!

God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like hinds' feet, he makes me tread upon my high places. - Habakkuk 3:19