The Key to Effective Prayer

Pastor Kara Diaz
 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

Pastor Kara continued her powerful series on the three Kingdom principles that have deeply impacted her and Pastor Ben’s lives. The first message covered Money, Judgement, and Mercy—if you missed it, be sure to go back and watch this life-changing teachings.

This third principle focuses on the power of Effective Prayer and Persistent Faith. Pastor Kara reminded us that renewing our minds is key to understanding the truth: as children of God, we have been grafted into His Kingdom—and everything in His Kingdom operates differently than the world’s system.

1. Don’t Give Up—Persistent Faith is Celebrated in Heaven

Matthew 7:7 invites us to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. The enemy hates when we pray, because everything changes when we do. But Pastor Kara cautioned us not to put a time limit on our prayers. Prayer is a partnership with God—He invites us to work with Him, not just make requests.

She said, “It’s on us to have as much of Jesus as we want—He already paid for it all.” Pastor Kara shared her own story of praying for 20 years before seeing the orphanage in Kenya come to life.

She also referenced Daniel, who prayed for answers and received a “yes” from God on the first day—but the answer was delayed 21 days due to spiritual warfare in the heavens (Daniel 10). Our part is to withstand the enemy, stir ourselves up in prayer, and never quit.

Heaven responds to faith, not performance. Sometimes the answer shows up in the next generation. That’s why we must trust God's character and remain persistent—without imposing our own timeline on Him.

As Hebrews 6:12 (NLT) says:
"Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”

2. Know the Father—Faith Grows as We Understand God’s Character (Matthew 7:9–11)

Pastor Kara emphasized that God is a good Father who desires to bless us far beyond what we can imagine. While we may not doubt the promise, sometimes we struggle to fully trust the Promise Maker. That’s why it’s vital to keep renewing our minds and focusing on who God is—faithful, generous, and loving.

She encouraged us to boldly ask for both what we need and what we want, because “nobody takes better care of us than Dad.”

(If you want to go deeper in understanding God's heart and His unconditional love, Pastor Kara recommends her Song of Songs series—it will bless you!)

3. The Cross is Proof of God’s Desire to Bless Us

"But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed."(Isaiah 53:5)

The cross stands as the ultimate evidence of God’s love and His intent to bless us. Pastor Kara reminded us that if God didn’t withhold His own Son, He will certainly not withhold anything else we request.

She also encouraged us to check our emotions as a way to examine our faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). If we’re still anxious or restless after praying, it might mean we’re struggling to fully trust. And that’s okay—God welcomes our honesty.

Just like the father in Mark 9:23–24, who cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” we can come to God with our doubts and He will meet us with grace.

Final Encouragement:

Don’t give up. Keep praying.
Pastor Kara closed with this powerful truth: Heaven celebrates even your smallest seed of faith. Persistent faith moves mountains. Trust the Father, stay in partnership with Him, and know—your prayers are never wasted. 

Click here to listen to Pastor Kara's full message!