How can we "energize" our prayers?

Every time we stop to pray, we should ask ourselves two questions. 1. Am I in fellowship (Eph. 6:18)? Sin throws up a barrier between God and us and short-circuits our prayer (Isa. 59:2). Self-examination and confession remove the barrier and restore us to fellowship (1 John 1:9; 3:21–22). If we have unconfessed sins in our lives, if we are not filled by means of the Spirit, our prayers are works of the flesh and have absolutely no power. 2. Am I praying according to the will of God (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14–15)? We have to know His Word. Lack of study will rob us of the ability to pray effectively. We cannot ask for something in faith unless the Word of God declares that what we ask is the will of God. When we know the Word and our will is in line with His will, then our prayer will be powerful prayer.