Praying effectively means you must change your mindset. Negativity stops the blessings of Heaven in your life. It opens a door for the enemy to come and entangle you with guilt and shame. The thoughts and things we put before us are what we focus on and therefore what we become. If we are speaking negativity and concentrating on what is going wrong, then we give the negativity a STRONGHOLD in our lives. It then grows and becomes an idol. An idol is anything that is positioned above God and His Word in our lives. If we constantly complain, then we are blocking the blessings of God.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

_Philippians 4:8 (RSV)

In the Bible David started several of his Psalms with complaints directed at the Lord, but ended them in praise. The Psalms of lament give a voice to our troubles in a way that honors God. He can handle our complaints. After we have released them to Him, we can enter a place of praise. (Psalm 142:1-7) Thanksgiving and praise are the opposite of complaining. Complaining will rob you of your progress. Hope vanishes in the face of complaining. If we focus on the circumstances, we take our eyes off Jesus. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. If we are not focused on Him, then we can no longer see the promise of hope. (Psalm 100:4)

Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name.

Psalm 100:4 AMP

To pray effectively, we need to change our mindset. Sometimes we think like the children of Israel. (Exodus 2:23-35; Psalm 27:28-25; Exodus 16:2-3) Even though God literally rained manna on them daily, they still did not trust that He would take care of them. Why are we like them? Sometimes our thought patterns are instilled deeply into our minds at an early age. To change them we can study God’s Word and spend time with Holy Spirit who will establish new thought patterns within us. Holy Spirit makes all things new. (2 Cor 5:17)

Read the Prayer Aloud >>

Father God, I do not have strength on my own for this battle. I am weary and long for rest. Help me to cease from complaining. Let my focus be on the Cross and what Jesus has purchased for me. You are my strength and stronghold. I will run to You for rest. I will praise You in my circumstances. Thank you for the provision of Heaven. Thank You that You are not moved by my circumstances. Thank you that according to Your Word (Deuteronomy 28:1-14), I am above and not beneath, I am the head and not the tail. Thank You, Father God, that You are helping me to guard my tongue. Thank You for the spirit of wisdom so that I will speak words that bring life. I choose to turn my complaints into praise.

I do not want to be like the Israelites who saw your mighty hand in Egypt and passed through the Red Sea on dry ground and were fed with the bread of Heaven but chose to complain against You. Let me never forget all Your marvelous works in my life.
In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen