Prayer is a mysterious action of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). Even if your words are stumbling and weak, always keep in mind that "the prayer of the upright is God's delight" (Proverbs 15:8, KJV). With this assurance, here are six action steps that can bring even more of God's delight in your prayers:

Ask. God does more when we ask Him to do more, and less when we fail to ask. Success in salvation rested on the condition that the Son of God would pray and from heaven's King receive power (Psalm 2:7-8). Heaven's blessings come with a condition: "If my people will pray" (2 Chronicles 7:14). The alternative to asking is assuming. Joy comes through asking.

Believe. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:22). We "must believe and not doubt" (James 1:6). Such faith is not a substance manufactured but a growing relationship—defined not by quantity but by quality. With childlike trust in a great God, we take Him at His word: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24, KJV).

Claim. Pioneering homesteaders in the Old West selected a land site and then staked their claim to it. Likewise we claim a promise of God and take possession of it. Daniel staked his claim on God's promise with humble and holy assertiveness, praying: "O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay" (Daniel 9:19).

Agree. When believers unite and "agree" in prayer, they unleash a unique level of heaven's power (see Matthew 18:18-19). The first Christians "joined together constantly in prayer" (Acts 1:14). When Peter was in prison, "the church was earnestly praying to God for him" (Acts 12:5). No wonder the Spirit worked powerfully! Pray in private, but also find others with whom to establish a fellowship in prayer.

Adore. How often our prayers are dominated by petition and practically devoid of praise. "Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name" (Hebrews 13:15). Adoration of God is not so much for His sake as for ours. It is the best therapy for our dark times! Place every request in a window of praise and watch the power flow.

Relinquish. This powerful word means "leave behind, give up, give over, stop holding on to, release, yield, commit, deposit, surrender." The meaning is illustrated in Paul's farewell to church leaders: "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace" (Acts 20:32). Sometimes in prayer we worry over issues or people. Instead, pray. "Lord, this challenge is too big for me. I therefore relinquish this issue, this person, to You, and by faith accept that you are now 100 percent in charge of it for Your glory and for the greatest blessing possible."

Ask, believe, claim, agree, adore, relinquish—these are all action steps for powerful prayer. Let's put them into practice, beginning now!

At the time this article was written, Ed Gallagher was a pastor and the director of prayer ministry for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rocky Mountain. Reprinted with permission Mid-America Outlook, January, 2006.