Often in preparation for effective prayer we see prayer and fasting coupled together. In Acts 13:2-3, the early church in Antioch is described as a community of believers who are worshiping Yahuah and fasting. During this time, the Holy Spirit instructs them to set apart Barnabas and Paul for the work that they are called to do. Following this divine guidance, the church members pray, lay hands on them, and send them off on their mission. This passage highlights the importance of prayer, fasting, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer, coupled with fasting, as an effective way to pray is evident throughout both Old and New Testament writings. In Acts 14:23, Paul and Barnabas employed prayer and fasting in appointing elders for the church.
Exodus 34:28 mentions that Moses neither ate bread nor drank water while he was on Mt Sinai for an additional 40 days1 receiving the covenant. The Prophet Ezra declared a fast for himself and the people as they prayed for a safe journey back to Jerusalem from Babylon. (Ezra 8:21-23)
After hearing of the condition of Jerusalem, Nehemiah mourns and fasts, then prays for the repentance of Israel’s sins and for restoration of the scattered nation. (Nehemiah 1)
In addition to humbling through fasting and prayer, here other important prerequisites for effective prayer that are important to study and consider:
Repentance of Sins (2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 66:18)
Faith and Trust in Yah (Hebrews 11:6, James 1:6, Proverbs 3:5-6)
Obedience to Yahuah’s Torah (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 and 1 John 3:22 “And we receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.”)
Forgiveness (Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”)
Persistence and Perseverance (Luke 18:1) “Pray and never give up”; and (1 Thessalonians 5:17) “Pray continually.”
Righteousness (James 5:1) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Eliminating Distractions (James 5:16) “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
The Importance of Purification and Cleanliness
Throughout the scriptures, we are encouraged to maintain a state of cleanliness and purity, reflecting the nature of the Most High and His Son. The following verses highlight the profound connection between spiritual purity and the effectiveness of our prayers.
Psalm 24:3-4: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
Isaiah 1:15-16: “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.”
James 4:8 – “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Did you know that scripture indicates that if we do not keep Yahuah’s commandments our prayers are an abomination to him?
Proverbs 28:9 – “He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination.”
Here are a few other supporting verses:
Psalm 66: 18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me.”
Proverbs 15:8 – The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: But the prayers of the upright is his delight.”
Zechariah 7:11-13 – “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they closed their ears so they could not hear. They made their hearts like a rock so as not to obey the law or the words that the Lord of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from theLord of Hosts. Just as He had called, and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen,” says the Lord of Hosts.”
Isaiah 1:15 – “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of Blood!”
Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins havehidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Micah 3:4 – “Then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them. At thattime he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.”
John 9:31 – “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godlyperson who does his will.”
1 Peter 3:12 – “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
So believers can now see, effective prayer involves:
1. Repentance of Sins and the Acceptance of the Gospel of Yahusha Messiah’s death, burial, resurrection, His esteem title as the Son of Yahuah, His esteem and honor as the High Melchizedek priest in heaven sitting at the right hand of the father interceding on our behalf.
2. Faith and Trust in Yahuah and His son Yahusha
3. Cleanliness (Ensuring One Isn’t Unclean or Defiled)
4. Obedience to God’s Commands
5. Forgiveness of others who have sinned against us
6. Striving to live a Righteous life: Remember don’t ever let anyone tell you can’t be righteous, because to say we can’t achieve a righteous walk would be declaring Yahuah a liar. And we know that Yahuah does not lie and that he is not asking his children to do something impossible.
7. Fasting in Humility
8. Eliminating Distractions and focusing on Yahuah when we pray, as we persist and persevere through our prayer life. “Pray Continually” — (a) Praying aloud, not just in our minds (b) Praying through song as David did may be another effective method.
The Impact of Effective Prayer on Our Lives
Effective prayer is important to believers because it ensures that our prayers and petitions to Yahuah are aligned with His will. We all should all strive for our prayers to be sincere and meaningful, rather than selfish, prideful, misguided, angry, vengeful, or disconnected from Yah’s plan. It is essential to remember that Yah has given us the beautiful gift of choice, often referred to as free will. By focusing on effective prayer, we can deepen our relationship with Him and seek to fulfill His purposes in our lives. Amein!
“But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahuah, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family (my house), we will worship Yahweh.”
Joshua 24:15
So, we do indeed have a choice.
Keeping the freedom to make choices in mind, it’s clear that we pray because we desire something; we seek a solution or relief from our problems. Mature believers recognize the importance of praying in alignment with the Father’s will and in a righteous manner. This means we should avoid asking for material possessions out of selfishness. For example, it’s perfectly reasonable for a family to pray for a larger home if their current living space is no longer adequate due to growth. However, this request differs significantly from seeking a bigger house out of vanity or covetousness.
Keeping the freedom to make choices in mind, it’s clear that we pray because we desire something; we seek a solution or relief from our problems. Mature believers recognize the importance of praying in alignment with the Father’s will and in a righteous manner. This means we should avoid asking for material possessions out of selfishness. For example, it’s perfectly reasonable for a family to pray for a larger home if their current living space is no longer adequate due to growth. However, this request differs significantly from seeking a bigger house out of vanity or covetousness.
Yahuah knows our hearts and our needs, Amein!
Recall the petitions that Avraham made on behalf of the city of Sodom, as he bargained with Yahuah regarding the destruction of that wicked city. He pleaded that if Yah could find just ten righteous people, He would spare it. Avraham could have chosen to remain silent, but instead, he voiced his concerns, and Yahuah heard his petitions, considered them, and agreed to the terms. It was not counted against Avraham as sin for asking.
Ultimately, however, ten righteous people were not found, and the city was still destroyed. Yet, Avraham’s heart of compassion drove him to intercede, and Yahuah listened and responded to his pleas. Likewise, Moses wrestled with Yah and interceded on behalf of the children of Israel as we read earlier in Exodus 32:11-14. Hallelujah!
Another more important reason we should desire to have an effective prayer life, is simply to foster a deeper relationship with our heavenly Father.
When we wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to Yahuah and His Son, Yahusha, and discipline ourselves to follow Yahuah’s Torah—His Laws, Commands, and Instructions—without hesitation, we commit to serving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. In doing so, we will see positive results: our prayers will be heard and be effective in our lives and in the lives of the people we pray for. Our prayers will be more effective in opposing evil spirits, powers, and principalities that we pray against, as well as in seeking protection and deliverance from them. Halleluyah!
A note of caution: please don’t mistake the intent of this study or misinterpret scripture. I’m not implying that every request we make in prayer will be granted, nor am I promoting any false prosperity gospel ideas. Even Paul prayed for healing from his ailment, but he accepted that the answer was no, demonstrating maturity and faith in accepting Yahuah’s decisions.
I am not implying that we won’t face persecution, stress, danger, or even death. Stephen, the first martyr, lived righteously and had what I would consider an effective prayer life, yet he still died for his faith. However, look at what his death inspired. Look at the example he set by giving forgiveness toward those who murdered him. Stephen is notably remembered for his ultimate sacrifice for the faith. His actions emboldened Christians to standfast in the face of persecutions and for centuries has inspired believers to fear no men and to stand for truth no matter what.
Remember, always pray that Yahuah’s will be done in all things. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes prayers are answered in many miraculous ways.
Examples of Effective Prayer
Let’s be honest, answered prayer in today’s world seldom makes it onto the evening news. They are likely never reported or are buried on purpose because the enemy – Ha’Satan – wants believers to remain uninformed, weak, and ineffective in their spiritual and prayer life. The evil one does not want us praying for healing of one another, he does not want us casting out demons, and he does not want us to raise the dead. But these prayers are answered today. Here are a few instances I have found of prayers being answered in amazing ways:
Miraculous Provision
George Müller was a Christian evangelist and the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. He is known for his unwavering faith and reliance on prayer. Müller never asked for financial support, but instead, he prayed for God to provide for the needs of the orphanage. One famous story recounts how, one morning, there was no food for the children. Müller prayed, and shortly after, a baker knocked on the door with enough bread to feed everyone. Then, a milkman whose cart had broken down nearby offered the milk to the orphanage, ensuring the children had a complete meal.
Miraculous Resurrection
In 2001, Nigerian pastor Daniel Ekechukwu was declared dead after a car accident. His body was taken to a mortuary, where it remained for two days. His wife, believing in the power of prayer, insisted on taking his body to a church where Reinhard Bonnke was preaching. After intense prayer, Daniel reportedly came back to life, astonishing doctors and witnesses.
Miraculous Recovery
In 2015, John Smith, a teenager from Missouri, fell through ice and was underwater for 15 minutes. He was declared dead for over an hour. His mother, Joyce, prayed fervently at his bedside, and miraculously, his heart started beating again. Despite the grim prognosis, John made a full recovery, which doctors could not explain.
Miraculous Healing
Barbara Snyder was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was in the final stages of the disease. She was bedridden and had lost the ability to breathe on her own. After receiving prayer from her church community, she experienced a sudden and complete healing. She was able to walk and breathe without assistance, leaving her doctors baffled.
Reverend Thomas Kendall & Maori Chiefs, oil painting by James Barry 1820
Miracles Witnessed by Early Catholic Missionaries in Africa
In the early 20th century, Catholic missionaries in Africa often reported miraculous events among the local tribes. One notable account involves missionaries who shared the Gospel with a tribe, teaching them about Jesus’ miracles. When the missionaries returned months later, they found the tribe practicing what they had learned—casting out demons, healing the sick, and even raising the dead. However, the missionaries, unfamiliar with such manifestations, discouraged these practices, fearing they were forms of local magic.
John G. Lake, a missionary to South Africa in the early 1900s, documented numerous miracles, including healings and resurrections. Lake’s ministry was marked by extraordinary events, such as the healing of the sick and casting out of demons, which resonated deeply with the local African communities.
As we can see, Yahuah still answers prayers. These prayers were certainly effective because they involved, steadfast faith, belief in the power of Yahuah, and were coupled with a righteous walk.
Preacher Charles Spurgeon had this to say about the nature of prayer:
“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.”
“Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.”
Brothers and sisters, seek guidance and effective prayer examples from the Scriptures. We are to be mimickers of Yahusha. We know Yahusha mimics the Father in heaven and does all things according to His will. Yahusha followed the examples set in the Torah and the Prophets, and we should do the same in our prayer life and approach to prayer.
We should equip ourselves for effective prayers in various circumstances, as highlighted in several passages above. This is especially important concerning spiritual warfare and other significant matters. We should all routinely engage in prayer, fasting, maintaining cleanliness, purification, and humility. We can metaphorically wear sackcloth and ashes by publicly and visibly demonstrating deep remorse, humility, and a sense of mourning and deep anguish in our prayers to our Heavenly Father. Many of us understand this connection to the Day of Atonement, and we see above it applies in a multitude of dire situations.
Hopefully you can see why striving for an effective prayer life is important to us, the lives of those around us, and to our connection to Yahusha and our heavenly Father Yahuah.
The main thing I hope and pray is that we all keep working and striving for an effective prayer life, to be the light to the world that Yahuah has called us to be as his children. If we pray and it seems like our prayers aren’t being heard or answered, may we never give up, may we keep striving to prays as the prophets prayed, as Yahusha prayed, and keep turning back to the Scriptures for guidance in achieving this goal of effective prayers.
Never give up, keep trying, and remain persistent. The Scriptures tell us to pray without ceasing. All day, every day, all the time! Halleluyah, and Amein!
Lastly, recall at the beginning of this study I ask you to write down in your study notes a list of your current prayers, and specifically how you are saying the prayer to Yah. Now, having considered the topics covered in this study, revisit those prayers and determine how you might reword the prayers to be more effective. But most importantly, consider what preparations you should do first before presenting your petition to the Father more effectively.
Prayers are answered today, all the time, all around the world, and we must keep trying, keep praying, keep petitioning Yahuah, in fear, respect, faith, and in patience – never doubting. We must always pray in accordance with His will. May Yahuah’s will be done in all things even when we don’t understand.
Thank you for honoring me by reading through this study. I hope it has blessed you and that it helps in your pursuit of achieving a more effective prayer life. All glory and honor be to the Most-High Yahuah!
“Hear, O Yisra’ĕl: יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one! “And you shalllove יהוה your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Shalom.
Footnotes
1 In Exodus 24:18, it states that Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights when he received the tablets of the law. Adding these two periods together gives a total of 80 days of fasting: 40 days from Exodus 24:18 and 40 days from Exodus 34:28.
Sacred calendars often evoke strong opinions and debates. It is clear that the Father’s intention is for these calendars to bring His children closer together, yet they frequently lead to division. This experience is not unique to us; throughout history, calendar-related disputes have been a source of contention among believers of all backgrounds. The so-called “calendar wars” have deep roots.
This article does not aim to persuade you that our ministry has uncovered the definitive solution to the “true” creation calendar. However, during Sukkot 2024, we were blessed with new insights that prompted us to reevaluate our approach to calendar methodology.
In light of these revelations, our 2025/2026 Zadok Priestly Calendar has evolved. We have shifted away from relying solely on the Equinox as a key marker indicating the start of the year. We have also incorporated the Equilux into our framework, reflecting our commitment to adapting and growing in understanding.
Without getting mired in the minutiae of how we calibrated this calendar, we will instead highlight key aspects of how it was put together.
A Quick Zadok Calendar Overview
David’s role in setting up the priestly order
And David said, Solomon my son is young and untested, and the house which is to be put up for Yahuah is to be very great, a thing of wonder and glory through all countries; so I will make ready what is needed for it. So David got ready a great store of material before his death.
1 Chronicles 22:5 Bible in Basic English Translation
David never saw Solomon’s house for Yahuah. However, it was in his heart to build it in Jerusalem during the 33 years he reigned over the “united people nation of Israel.”
1 Chronicles 24 tells us one of David’s first tasks was to divide the Levitical priesthood into divisions. Some would serve before Yahuah, some would sing and play instruments, and some would guard it with all their strength.
King David drew lots for sixteen Zadok families of the sons of Eleazar, and eight Ahimelech families of the sons of Ithamar, according to offices in their services. Both Zadok and Ahimelech were the high priests during the reign of King David.
The Zadok Priestly Calendar uses:
Sun, moon, and stars
Keeps the 7 day count set-apart per instructions given in Genesis
Has 364 days, 12 months, 30-day month (+1 at the end of each season), and uses the priestly coursed found in 1 Chronicles 24.
There are 52 Shabbats per year, which are never disturbed by a Feast Shabbat. This means you will never begin Sukkot on the weekly shabbat or any other feast. The weekly shabbats are set-apart just like the feasts.
How is this calendar intercalated?
A complete week is intercalated at the end of the sixth year. (Stars are a witness. 1 Enoch 82)
Insights Into Ancient Timekeeping
To correctly understand our Zadok Priestly Calendar you must also understand the priestly courses. There are 24 families of priests mentioned in 1 Chronicles 24. They remain the same throughout a six year cycle.
1st year = Gamul
2nd year = Yedaiah
3rd year = Majim
4th year = Shecaniah
5th year = Yeshebeab
6th year = Aphses
This priestly order ensured three outcomes:
The 7 day shabbat will always remain unbroken.
The priests stayed in order and worked an equal amount of days in the 6 year cycle.
The 7 year release and Jubilee were recorded by Gamul and Shecaniah.
Gamul and Shecaniah would always be in the 3rd year by the full moon appearing somewhere at the start of the New Year. This would ensure that they would not lose track of the sabbatical and Jubilee years for a 294 year pattern.1
The Starting Point of the Zadok Priestly Calendar
The first thing we needed to do was find the ‘starting point’ from which to tether intercalation. We knew the starting point had to match from day one of the first year of the first priestly course all the way through the sixth year.
This only way this could be done correctly is to match the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) fragments with a six year moon cycle of our Common Era.
We know they recorded the moon cycles as a sign, or what they called an ‘ot’ to make sure they stayed in the correct year. Because the moon falls behind so many days in a year, in the 3rd year we will have another 13 cycles to ‘catch up’ with the sun and the stars.
Without the correct sign of the moon, your years will go astray and you won’t know which year the moon truly adds the extra cycle to back it up. This is most likely what Jubilees is talking about in Chapter 6:33-38. They lost the sign of the moon to witness the Sabbath and Jubilees. So the moon does have a place in the calendar. It is just not for days, months, and years.
Using the book A New Translation: The Dead Sea Scrolls2 we found 4Q320 along with other fragments stating that a full moon was on the fourth day of the month on the first year with Gamul, along with another full moon on the fifth day of the week on the 29th (day of a lunar month), and falls on the 30th of the 1st month (according to the solar month) with Yedaiah in service.
There are over 25 priest and moon conjunctions along with days of the week, Sabbaths, and Feast Day matches in 2019 alone. There were nine such matches in 2020 (year 2), And seven matches in 2023 (year 5).
With only the Dead Sea Scrolls book and the ‘menorah method,’3 we concluded that the Spring Equinox was the marker for starting the year in 2022. But there was still more proof and patterns that needed to be matched
So this year using The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls by Giza Vermes we found the rest of the 6 year matches completing 2019-2024 to start 2025. When matching all of the records from the Dead Sea Scrolls on to the moon calendars of our time we were shocked to see that no week was added in the six year course of the priests!
When no week was added in those six years we discovered that the ‘menorah method’ was not meant to calibrate the calendar by using the Equinox, but rather by Equilux – equal day and night. This is corroborated in 1 Enoch 72.
By not intercalating until the completion of the priestly six year course, the Sabbatical and Jubilee years recorded in the Dead Sea Scrolls now matched, with Gamul returning to what the Zadok priests called creation week after the 7th jubilee period.
A Jubilee period is 6 years of priestly cycles.
So 6 x 49 = 294
Making the 295th year the fiftieth year of the Jubilee count and the first year of the new 294 year count with Gamul returning as the priest. This week of the new cycle of 294 years is what the Zadok priests considered “creation week” with the Equilux (equal day and equal night) occurring on Day 1 (Sunday) and the Equinox occurring on Day 4 (Wednesday), which is also Day 1 of the first year of the next six year Zadok Priestly calendar count.
These same priest and moon cycle patterns will not happen for another 294 years. They are the patterns that occurred in March of 2019.
Stellarium Web Image – stellarium-web.org**
After conducting some straightforward calculations over several years of lunar cycles, we identified full moons coinciding with Gamul in 1726 AD and 1432 AD. Looking ahead, we found similar matches extending to 2050. By utilizing the equal day and night menorah method3, we confirmed that the same patterns observed in the Dead Sea Scrolls remain consistent. Notably, an additional week is always added at the end of the sixth year, marking the beginning of the seventh year, which also serves as the first year of the subsequent six-year cycle.
This method always puts the start of the next six year cycle on the Equinox but never goes past the straight line shadow (of the sundial) and out of Creation week. The equal day and night is a witness to Yahuah’s calendar based on sevens and not a 5-6 pattern using the Equinox. Think six years of cycles, then a reset on the seventh.
In doing this research, another amazing find was discovered this year. After several years of watching the Constellations, a solid witness to the intercalation week was found.
On March 11 and 12, 2024 the sun entered Pisces. According to the priestly courses 2024 is a sixth year starting with Aphses on March 13. On September 114, the sun entered Virgo which was the first day of the seventh month on the Zadok Priestly Calendar according to this six year cycle. So far everything is matching up to the cycle.
Now when you get to March 2025, day 364 is March 11 and it’s year one again. So it’s time to add the interaction week with Pisces as our witness.
Back to the Future
What’s so special about the year 2019? Plenty. In 2019 the year began on March 20th, the 4th day of the week (Wednesday). On that day several things occurred:
It was a full moon
The Equinox occurred
The sun was in Pisces
It was the service week for the priest Gamul
The GWDF Priestly Calendar shows an intercalary reset week beginning the 1st year of this new six year priestly cycle on March 19, 2025. In 2025 the Equilux is Sunday, March 16 and Equinox occurs on Thursday, March 20th. Gamul is the priest in service and on the 30th day of the moon cycle Yedaiah is the priest entering service under a full moon.
Sketches of priests from the Phillip Medhurst Collection
Who is Zadok?
Zadok was a Kohen (member of priestly class) and is noted in biblical texts as a descendant of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. He served as the High Priest of Israel during the reigns of Kings David and Solomon. Zadok is also the name of the priesthood mentioned in Ezekiel’s vision of a future house of Yahuah.
This area is set aside for the ordained priests, the descendants of Zadok who served me faithfully and did not go astray with the people of Israel and the rest of the Levites.
Ezekiel 48:11 New Living Translation
The 20+ signs that occurred during the Zadok Priestly Calendar year 2019 started a new 294 year count of six Jubilees. This leads us to believe that Yahuah and His Son Yahusha, known as the eternal son of David, is calling for a “united people nation of Israel” to serve faithfully for eternity in the New Jerusalem.
Final Thoughts
These new insights concerning this new Zadok Priestly Calendar for 2025/2026 are based on years of exhaustive research done by our ministry partners Gina Sparks and Sara Davis. We are also indebted to GWDF leadership team members Sherry Sanders and Robert Villa for their passionate love for the Scriptures and YHWH’s creation calendar.
If you want to know more about the calendar, or need clarification on topics mentioned in this article, feel free to contact us. Thank you for downloading the 2025/2026 Zadok Priestly Calendar and supporting this ministry. Shalom.
Article Postscript
GWDF has become aware of confusion found in this article and apologize for causing any frustration. The first error in the original article stated that the 2025 Equilux (equal day, equal night) will be on Monday, March 16th. However, the 16th is on Sunday this year. We have already made that correction.Our statement that Yedaiah would come into service on Shabbat, Month 1 Day 25 (April 12th), during the full moon on the 30th day of the lunar month is true. However, it is not the last day of the solar month like in 2019.We are all learning while on this beautiful walk to learn more about our Heavenly Creator and His Son, our Heavenly High Priest. We at GWDF thank you in advance for all comments and most all of all the patience and love that you have shown us while we all grow together. — Sherry Sanders & Robert Villa, GWDF Calendar Team
FOOTNOTES
1 “A 294-year cycle of 6 jubilees. This is the cycle that plots a rare occurrence: the service of the first priestly division, named Gamul, on New Year’s Day at the beginning of a jubilee period. 294 years would pass between occurrences. The scroll writers believed that this situation reprised that of the fourth day of creation.” See Calendar of the Heavenly Signs (text 71). Explanation of the 294 year jubilee cycle quoted from A New Translation:The Dead Sea Scrolls, translated and with commentary by Michael Wise, Martin Abegg Jr, and Edward Cook, p. 384
2 The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation, translated and with commentary by Michael Wise, Martin Abegg Jr., and Edward Cook. Harper One, copyright 1996, 2005.
3 For more information regarding the menorah method, see the GWDF blog article titled “Zadok Priestly Calendar Insights” and scroll down to the section titled “How the Zadok Calendar Works.”
** By referencing the constellation Pisces or showing images from Stellarium Web, GWDF is not endorsing the practice of Astrology. We suggest you do research on the Mazzaroth which is mentioned in the Book of Job ( Job 38:32) in relation to the stars and their positions in the sky. Another reference is Frances Rolleston’s book Mazzaroth. (The first edition of “Mazzaroth” was published by James Nisbet & Co. in 1862). The word “Mazzaroth” in Hebrew (מַזָּרוֹת) generally refers to the constellations.
Prayer is a familiar practice for many of us, often woven into the fabric of our daily lives. For some, it’s a ritual performed multiple times throughout the day. But what motivates us to pray?
I understand why I pray. I seek constant forgiveness and guidance to navigate life’s challenges and difficulties. I pray for the protection of those I love, as well as those I may not. I communicate with Yahuah to express my love and respect for Him, and to show my gratitude for sending His son, Yahusha, who laid down His life for my sins and rose again triumphantly as the Messiah and high Melchizedek priest, interceding for me at the right hand of the Father.
I offer my thanks, fully aware that I do not deserve even a fraction of His grace and forgiveness. Yet, His word assures me that He loves and cares for me. Who am I to receive such kindness?
I pray in gratitude for the food and provisions in my life. (Philippians 4:19) I seek discernment and wisdom as I study Scripture. I also pray for the courage to speak before a crowd of believers, many of whom possess far greater knowledge than I do. Most importantly, I ask for the Ruach HaKodesh to speak through me, delivering Yahuah’s message rather than my own.
The Prophet Isaiah eloquently captures Yahuah’s faithfulness to all who are considered ‘the remnant of Israel’—those who place their prayerful trust in Him:
I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you.
Isaiah 46:4
Examples of Effective Prayer
Of course we know that in Matthew 6:9-13 Yahusha taught us to pray – commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. However, this is not the only approach we should take in prayer. In verse five of Matthew 6, Yahusha admonished us to be authentic.
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Matthew 6:5-8
So it is okay to pray in other ways and for specific purposes. Other notable prayers you may recall from the Bible are:
Yahusha’s prayer prior to his crucifixion:
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:39
Hannah’s prayer for a child:
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, ‘Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
1 Samuel 1:10-11
Solomon’s prayer for wisdom:
Now, Yahuah my Elohim, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
1 Kings 3:7-9
David’s prayer of personal repentence:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalm 51:1-2
Daniel’s prays for the repentance of Yah’s people:
“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.”
Daniel 9:4-5
Before we dive into our study on effective prayer, take a few minutes of your time to make a list of current prayer requests. Note specifically your approach to the Father. Put this aside for now, as we will revisit this later in Part 2 of this article.
Effective Prayer Requires Preparation
It is essential to examine certain specific preparations mentioned in scripture and explore how they relate to effective prayer.
Synopsis: Jesus encounters a large crowd and finds His disciples arguing with some scribes. A man approaches Him, explaining that his son is possessed by a spirit that causes severe physical convulsions and has made him unable to speak. The man had asked Jesus’ disciples to cast out the spirit, but they were unsuccessful. Jesus expresses frustration at the lack of faith among the people and asks for the boy to be brought to Him. When the boy is presented, he convulses violently. The father shares that this has been happening since childhood and pleads for help, expressing doubt in his belief. Jesus reassures him that all things are possible for those who believe. The father cries out for help with his unbelief. Jesus then commands the unclean spirit to leave the boy, and despite the boy appearing dead after the spirit’s departure, Jesus lifts him up, restoring him to life. After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out? ” And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting .”
Key: The disciples were unable to drive out the unclean spirit because they had not spent time praying and fasting prior to the encounter.
Another one of my favorites is Elihjah’s prayer on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:20-38:
Synopsis: The prophet Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel to demonstrate the power of the true God. He challenges them to a contest: each side will prepare a bull for sacrifice and call upon their deity to send down fire to consume it. The prophets of Baal go first, calling out and performing rituals all day without any response from Baal. Elijah then prepares his altar, drenches it with water, and prays to the Lord. God answers Elijah’s prayer by sending fire from heaven, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench around the altar. This event leads the people to proclaim that the Lord is the true God.
Keys: There are several key components tied to effective prayer in action here. In verse 24 the prophet drew a line between the One True Elohim – YHWH– and the false gods and priests of Baal. This is a very important distinction that will impact our prayer lives. In verses 30-33 Elijah called the people near as he took the time to repair the altar of worship that had been neglected. This neglect served as a metaphor for the deterioration of the people’s faith. In repairing the altar, Elijah was obeying the requirements of the Law (Leviticus 1:9) which were binding on Israel. Yahuah’s commands are also binding on us. Lastly, in verses 36-37 Elijah reminded the people of their heritage by invoking the names of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Israel) who in times past were also witnesses to YHWH’s miraculous power (often by fire) on their behalf. He was able to perform this amazing thing on Mt. Carmel because he acted according to Yah’s word.
Here are a few other examples of effective prayer from scripture to examine for this study:
Yahusha’s prayer for Lazarus to be raised from the dead in John 11:41-44
Peter’s rescue from prison in Acts 12:5-17 (Here it doesn’t quote the prayer but in verse 5 it reads “So Kĕpha was indeed kept in prison, but prayer was earnestly made to Elohim on his behalf by the assembly.”)
Paul and Silas’ rescue from prison in Acts 16:25-26 (Again, here it doesn’t quote the prayer but in verse 25 it reads “And at midnight Sha’ul and Silas were praying and singing songs to Elohim, and the prisoners were listening to them.” )
While there are numerous examples to explore in this study, I think these examples are particularly relevant and worth considering.
Understanding Effective Prayer: What It Looks Like and How It Works
Growing up in Oklahoma with a mother who had unwavering faith in the power of prayer, I learned early on that when severe weather approaches, we pray against the storm, rebuking it and commanding it to be calm and still, just as Yahusha did. I am grateful to have witnessed storm after storm dissipate as it neared our home, all thanks to our prayers. Praise Yahuah!
Let’s consider what effective prayer really looks like in our lives. You may be familiar with the examples listed below. However, when reading through them this time around, pay particular attention to small details and hints presented in the text, which point us toward achieving effective prayer.
What are some passages that discuss prayer in a higher level of detail? We will begin with James 5:13-19, which focuses on prayers that target specific needs.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:13-16
At the end of this section of scripture, James uses Elijah as an example of what effectual prayer can accomplish.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
James 5:17-18
The Method of Effective Prayer
Now we will focus on the ‘method’ presented in 2 Chronicles 7:14 which leads to achieving the desired result in one’s prayer life.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Realize you are ‘His people called by His name → Humble yourself → Seek His face (meaning seek his torah/ways in earnest) → Turn away from wicked ways (meaning truly repenting from sins and sinning no more = Yahuah hearing you (your prayers) from heaven = Forgiveness of one’s sins and healing of the land.
Self Realization of Identity + Work + Faith + Learning + Difficult lifestyle changing work = Yah actually hearing prayer = Forgiveness and Healing.
I won’t break down the subsequent examples listed below in this way, but hopefully this gives a visual of how to identify key points, key words, and methodologies of achieving more effective prayer, in your personal studies.
• 1 Kings 8:22-53 – Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication: Here we see King Solomon’s extensive prayer at the dedication of the temple, highlighting the importance of repentance, forgiveness, and Yah’s faithfulness.
• Daniel 9:1-19 – Daniel’s Prayer for His People: Daniel’s pours out his heart in confession, repentance, and supplication for the people of Israel, humbly seeking and seeking God’s mercy.
• Mark 11:24 – Highlights the importance of faith in Yahuah, believing that He is able to accomplish things that appear impossible with infinite ease.
• Philippians 4:6-7 – Emphasizes that there is to be such confidence in Yah as to free our mind from anxiety, and such a sense of dependence on Him as to keep it calm.Everything is in reference to the supply of our wants and our spiritual condition.Supplication is a mode of prayer which arises from that sense of need or want. Thanksgiving is the heart condition necessary as we make our requests known.
• 1 John 5:14-15 – The confidence referred to here is that which relates to the answer to prayer. The sense is that one of the effects of believing on Messiah is that we have the assurance that our prayers will be answered. We must remember also that Yah has not promised to grant anything that is contrary to His will. The expression ‘according to His will’ is a) in accordance with what He has declared He is willing to grant and b) limits the answer to prayer to what He sees to be best for us and our situation.
• John 17 – Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer: This entire chapter is a beautiful prayer by Yahusha, where he prays for Himself, His disciples, and all believers.
•• In Ephesians 1:15-19 , Paul highlights a heart full of thanksgiving, asks for wisdom and revelation of knowledge and that the Ephesians would have enlightened minds to know the ‘hope of His calling’ for their lives.
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
One prayer many are familiar with is from Daniel 9:1-20. Often referred to as a prayer for his people, Daniel’s Prayer is a shining example of how confession and humility can be the catalysts for powerful prayer. Here is the preamble, and the prayer in its entirety, for you to review and analyze in your devotional time:
In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans: In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70. So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel — those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You. 8Lord, public shame belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.
Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following His instructions that He set before us through His servants the prophets. All Israel has broken Your law and turned away, refusing to obey You. The promised curse written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him. He has carried out His words that He spoke against us and against our rulers by bringing on us so great a disaster that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done under all of heaven.
Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth. So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.
Now, Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made Your name renowned as it is this day, we have sinned, we have acted wickedly. Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, may Your anger and wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an object of ridicule to all those around us.
Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of Your servant. Show Your favor to Your desolate sanctuary for the Lord’s sake. Listen, my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion. Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for Your own sake, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.
In Part II of “Effective Prayer: A Torah Perspective”, we will explore how prayer preparation results in an impactful and meaningful life and why it is important.
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