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Written by John Osteen

Jesus died and rose again. He went to the Father so that we might have the privilege of praying. And we are instructed to ask in faith, with no wavering.

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault-finding, and it will be given him.

Only it must be in faith that he asks, with no wavering—no hesitating, no doubting. For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea, that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds—hesitating, dubious, irresolute—[he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides).
(James 1:5-8 AMP)

God does not want our faith to be based on present conditions. He wants our faith to remain constant.

We should not be tossed about by the circumstances of life—"up" one day and "down" the next. The scripture says if we are like this, we need not expect God to answer our prayers. God wants us to believe His promises and hold on to them without any wavering.

We don't have to beg God for what He has already promised us in His Word. We are to exercise our faith and enter into His presence with confidence. We just ask and accept—without any doubt.

We can say, "Father, I found it in Your Word and I thank You for it!" This should make going to the Father a real joy. Be happy and rejoice—that's part of our prayer and praise to God.

Be careful when you pray that you don't ask with the wrong motives and for the wrong purpose. We must ask for the right reasons.

What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is, [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
(James 4:1-3 AMP)

In order to have prevailing prayer in our lives, we must be sure we don't ask amiss—just for our own selfish purposes.

Some people might pray to be healed just so they can go out and sin again—never planning to live for God. Some may pray for help with financial problems—never intending to give God His tithe. This is praying with selfish motives and dishonoring God.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? This scripture speaks of our true human nature. We must overcome that nature with the power God makes available to us.

So, in order to pray prevailing prayers in our lives, we need to be sure our motives for asking are right. We need to be tied in to the great purposes of God.

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if any one steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. And I will do—I Myself will grant—whatever you may ask in My name…so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in [through] the Son. [Yes] I will grant—will do for you—whatever you shall ask in My name.
(John 14:12-14 AMP)

Jesus went to the Father, and He is our representative there. You fellowship with Jesus, talk with Jesus, but when you pray, you pray to the Father.

For it was the Father who thought salvation. The Son brought it, and the Holy Ghost wrought it. But the Father "so loved the world"—He's the One behind it all.

Now look at John 16:22-24 AMP:

Jesus had just told His disciples that He was going to die. He said, So for the present you are also in sorrow—in distress and depressed. But I will see you again and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one can take from you your joy (gladness, delight). And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me—you will need to ask Me no questions. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My name…Up to this time, you have not asked a [single] thing in My name…but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.

Ask in Jesus' name that your joy may be full and complete.

Source: Seven Facts About Prevailing Prayer
by John Osteen
Excerpt permission granted by John Osteen Publications