12 Keys to effective prayer_ Key One

#1 Start from a position of righteousness before God.

Salvation that comes from trusting Christ-- which is the message we preach-- is
already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at
hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." For if you confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God,
and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell
us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed. " -- Romans 10:8-11
(NLT)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -- 1 John 1:9 (WEB)

Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I
do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things
which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 3:13-14 (WEB)

You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you
once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; among
whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God,
being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were
dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have
been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches
of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of
works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. --
Ephesians 2:1-10 (WEB)

Beloved, if our hearts don't condemn us, we have boldness toward God; and
whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments
and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. This is his commandment, that
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even
as he commanded. He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in
him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. -- 1
John 3:21-24 (WEB)
You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to
knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also
joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered. -- 1 Peter
3:7 (WEB)

Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with
those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. -- 2 Timothy 2:22 (WEB)

Next key: God's will revealed!