Prayer’s vital connections

 But these are not the only connections. So to these prayer elements add the following: the Holy Spirit, angels, location and the time factor.
Prayer and the Holy Spirit
All the prayers that the Holy Spirit prompts you to do are guaranteed of God’s answers. The reason is obvious: the Holy Spirit is part of the Heavenly council so He knows the mind of God concerning your life. He guides us into all the truth and He reveals to us what He hears from Jesus about us (John 16:13).
The Holy Spirit teaches and anoints us to pray effectively as He connects us directly to God. He also gives us a spiritual language (tongues) which is a code that God readily understands but which mesmerises the devil as he cannot interpret the mysteries of tongues. The function of the Holy Spirit in our praying is beautifully explained in Romans 8:26-27 which reads, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered…he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” This text bares it all. Our weaknesses (infirmities) in prayer include ignorance of what specifically to pray for, how exactly to pray for that thing we need to pray for, and ignorance of God’s will in the matter we are bringing before God.
Can you see the surpassing importance of being led and directed by the Holy Spirit in prayer? The English phrase “helps our infirmities” was derived from the Greek word sunantilambano. This word describes how the Holy Spirit comes alongside in our praying efforts and carries our prayers directly into the presence of God in the manner and protocol required by God. Now you know the results you get if all protocol is duly observed and the will of God diligently considered. You get what you want and more.
King Solomon was inspired to ask for wisdom and he got exactly that and wealth, riches and honour in addition. Why? He asked in the right way, at the right time and according to the expectation of God. The Holy Spirit knows how to merge the fulfillment of God’s will, right timing and asking for the exact thing in one prayer.
Prayer and angels      
Angels are usually dispatched by God to come and strengthen us in prayer as well as to wrestle with our enemies. The reinforcement of angels in our prayers in most difficult situations ensures our victory, breakthroughs and accomplishment of God’s will.
You need to know that angels as our ministering spirits are not weak. They are powerful spirit beings that that can subdue demon spirits. Jesus Christ was strengthened by an angel from heaven in his agonising prayer in the garden of Gethsemane and he prayed until his sweat became like blood.
Peter was delivered from death and imprisonment by an angel in response to the unceasing prayers of the church in the house of Mark’s mother (Acts 12:8ff).
An angel came and comforted Paul in the storm after 14 days of fasting and revealed to him that only the ship would be destroyed and not the people (Acts 27:23). Angels are ministering spirits sent to help us from the presence of God. Though you may not necessarily command them to serve you at will you can pray for the Father to send them to your aid especially in life-threatening situations and in spiritual warfare (Matthew 26:53).
Prayer and location
You can pray anywhere you like but Jesus stressed the importance of secrecy in prayer (Matthew 6:6). There is no magic in the mountains; they just offer a secret place where you can concentrate in prayer loudly without disturbance. Private rooms are just as effective.
Looking to the east or any other direction prescribed by tradition is not important because in prayer you face God anyway.
Prayer and time factor  
Sincerity in prayer is more important that the length of prayer.
Brevity in prayer is scriptural for you are not heard by God for much speaking (Matthew 6:7). But in some situations importunity or persistence is required to get a breakthrough (Luke11:5ff).
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