He [God] cries to us, “Call unto Me, call unto Me.” Little prayer, little blessing; more prayer, more blessings; much prayer, much blessing.

F. B. Meyer

Do you want “much blessing”? We’re told that “much blessing” requires “much prayer.” But what does that mean? God’s prophets prayed much. In their prayers, we see 3 prayer steps.

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is His name: Call to Me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Jeremiah 33:1-3 (ESV)

With captivity on the horizon for Jerusalem, God told Jeremiah to call to Him.

Have you thought of prayer as a command from God? 

God draws mightily near to the praying soul. To see God, to know God, and to live for God—these form the objective of all true praying. Thus praying is, after all, inspired to seek after God. Prayer-desire is inflamed to see God, to have clearer, fuller, sweeter, and richer revelation of God.

E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer (emphasis added)

3 Prayer Steps

Jeremiah, Daniel, and Elijah fervently prayed because they saw God as the God of the universe. They knew God intimately and steadfastly believed that He would answer them. They lived for God by actively waiting upon His answer as they did all that they could do while they waited.

1. Fervently pray to God because you see Him. God has worked mightily in your life. Remember those times and call out to Him. He will hear your prayer and answer you. He will tell you great and mighty things. Words of hope. Words of redemption. 
2. Study the Bible and let the Holy Spirit transform your mind. See God as He is. Know Him and steadfastly believe God and His Word. Trust God and surrender your fears and doubts to Him.
3. Live as if your prayer has been answered by actively waiting upon God to work. The battle is His, but we must put on our armor. Jesus is the Captain of Heaven’s Armies. We take action to follow Him as we wait for Him to win the battle. Rejoice!

Thoughts and reasonings may be like the steel wedges that may open a way into truth, but prayer is the lever that forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery. …The saint may expect to discover deeper experience and to know more of the higher spiritual life by being much in prayer.

C. H. Spurgeon, The Power of Prayer in a Believer’s Life

As we pray, we see God at work. As we see God at work, He builds our faith, and we begin to actively wait upon Him.

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Looking back, can you see God at work in your life … building your faith? … Faith to pray?

There was a drought in the land because Elijah had prayed and God answered. Now it was time to bring rain.

Elijah climbed Mount Carmel, put his face between his knees, and prayed. After each prayer, he sent his servant to look towards the sea – nothing the first time. He sent him again and again – 7 times! On the 7th time, a little cloud appeared. Rain came. (1 Kings 18:42-46)

Isaiah saw God work miracles before this prayer and he fervently prayed for rain. He knew God intimately and steadfastly believed that God would bring rain as He had promised. Elijah lived the moment in active waiting by praying for rain repeatedly, sending his servant to look for a sign of racing, and telling the King to get prepared for rain.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

James 5:17-18 (ESV)

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. Friend, we can pray like Elijah. Power-filled prayers because we see God at work. We can steadfastly believe that God will act because we know Him. We can actively wait upon Him and live in confidence that the battle is God’s.

The previous verses in James 5 tell us to pray in great power.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:13-16 (ESV)

WE CAN PRAY BIG, BOLD PRAYERS, AND
GOD WILL HEAR AND ANSWER.

Our Almighty God and Father, thank You for allowing us to see You at work in our lives and in our world. We call out to You in fervent prayer. Our world is suffering from a drought – righteousness is scarce. Bring the cleansing rain that will cause Your people to humble themselves, seek Your face, and turn from our sins. We steadfastly believe that You hear our prayers and will answer them. While we wait, we will proclaim Your name. Do great and mighty things that we cannot fathom. In Jesus’ holy name, we pray, amen.

For a more comprehensive teaching, you may want to watch this video.