The Power of Prayer Part 1

“…The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”

James 5:16 The Message

Prayer is one of the most premier and powerful weapons we have in our spiritual arsenal:

• It’s an intimate act of worship (1 Tim. 2:8),
• It’s our ultimate communication language to the Father (I John 5:14-15),
• It’s the way we offer praise and thanksgiving (Col. 4:2),
• It’s how we connect and commune with the Father (Eph. 6:18),
• It’s how we express our love and gratitude (Ps. 86),
• It’s how we make our requests known, cast our cares, and intercede for ourselves and others (Phil. 4:6), and
• It’s how we receive answers and/or rebukes and even repent (I John 1:9).

However, it’s oftentime our last resort when dealing with life’s problems or difficult situations. Why is that? Especially since we know He is a prayer answering God and that His word encourages us to pray without ceasing (I Thes. 5:17)? Could it be that we feel like God won’t hear or answer our prayers; could it be that we believe that our prayers are insignificant to God; could it be that we’re too busy trying to work things out on our own; or could it be that we’ve lost our faith?

Well, I’m here to tell you that prayer works. Prayer can shift the atmosphere, call things into alignment/order, destroy the yoke of bondage, break strongholds/chains, cancel the enemy’s assignments, open/close doors, save, protect, and heal the brokenhearted; deliver you from the enemy’s hand, declare your future, speak to your dead situations, transform/change your life, mind, and attitude; prayer can raise the dead, move mountains and obstacles in your life, and give you the strength and grace to handle any situation that comes your way.

Prayer shifts the focus from your situation and problems to the great and mighty God you serve, who is waiting for you to realize that there is nothing too hard for Him and there is nothing that He can’t accomplish. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams” (The Message Bible).

And when you pray, remember that God’s will and plan for your life supersedes your own wants and desires. It’s important that your heart remains yielded and submitted to the will of the Father; to say “Yes” to His “Yes”, “Yes” to His “No”, and “Yes” to His “Not Yet/Now.” I know that this is not possible on your own strength but can be accomplished when you rely on His strength (Phil. 4:13). Don’t you want all that God has for you? I know I do; and that means that what I want must take a backseat to what God wants to do in and through my life. The road will not always be easy but God can and will equip you with the faith and strength to endure as shared in John 16:33 “…In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” (AMP).

Remember that God loves you and so do I!

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Stay tuned for Part 2 as we focus on the men and women of God in the Bible whose life was changed because of prayer!