Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.
The Power of Prayer
“The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place.” (2 Chronicles 30:27 NIV)
It is important to understand that the power of prayer does not come from us. Prayer is not special words we say or the special way we say them or even how often we say them. The length of our prayer is also not important. Powerful prayer is not made by standing on the street corner with dirt on your face or any other means to show others your piety. The power of prayer is not based on a certain direction we face or clothes. Moreover, a powerful prayer does not require candles or beads.
The power of prayer comes from God alone who hears our prayers and answers them. Prayer is a “hotline” that places us in contact with Almighty God, and we should expect almighty results,
whether or not He chooses to grant our petitions or deny our requests. Our prayers never receive a “busy signal.” Whatever the answer to our prayers, the God to whom we pray is the source of the power of prayer, and He can and will answer us, according to His perfect will and timing. We pray with joy, thanksgiving, and anticipation because we know that our loving Father hears us and wants good for us. We wait with child-like wonder to see how and when God is going to move.
Prayer is the first step of the Christian in any situation. God wants His people to pray to Him for petitions and thanksgiving. Prayer to God should be made persistently (Luke 18:1), with joy (Philippians 4:6), in faith (James 1:5), within the will of God (Matthew 6:10), for the glory of God (John 14:13-14), and from a heart right with God (James 5:16). “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). There is absolutely nothing that cannot be accomplished through prayer if it is consistent with His will. And prayer is never futile. True prayer is always true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real needs supplied.
I think the ultimate power of prayer comes when we pray for those that have hurt us the most. Matthew 5:44 teaches us, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Once we truly understand this and do it with sincerity, a supernatural peace will come upon us and the hurt will be a distant memory compared to the ever-present love of God.
Prayer: Thank you for the power of prayer and the peace that comes from knowing you hear all of our prayers. Help up to pray with joy and confidence and then wait patiently for your mighty hand. Dear God, please help us to sincerely pray blessings for those who persecute us, and as we do so with the knowledge that you will be glorified.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
Book Review: Forgiveness, the Passionate Journey Nine Steps of Forgiving through Jesus’ Beatitudes
Book Review: Forgiveness, the Passionate Journey Nine Steps of Forgiving through Jesus’ Beatitudes by Flora Slosson Wuellner “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11 NIV).I think most Christians understand that that through the blood of Jesus we have forgiveness for our sins and life everlasting with the Father. However, many of us still struggle with the concept of forgiveness. This book uses the Beatitudes, eight blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, to point the reader toward... -
Finding a Way Out from Temptation
Evangelism Begins With Discernment “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). I recently ate lunch with friends at a local cafeteria. As I walked with my tray to the cash register, I passed the desserts. They looked really good, and I was very tempted to get one but did not. In the... -
Reached the End of Your Rope?
Reached the End of Your Rope? “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah...