The Power of Prayer

Prayer is a powerful thing.  It is our communication with God and a mode of transforming our hearts towards him.  It is a powerful thing to open up to the God of the universe with intimacy and share with him our innermost thoughts.  It's also powerful to entreat him with our needs and desires and see how he makes a way in the desperation of our need. 

I think sometimes we forget the power of prayer and regulate it as a “since I can’t help I’ll pray.”  But prayer is more than that.  It’s not just a before I eat before I sleep thing, but a powerful link between the God of the universe and ourselves.  

Recently a brother mentioned that he has been having problems sleeping because of vivid dreams that have overwhelmed him.  He has been lying awake at night with minimal rest causing school and work to suffer.  This has been a problem for him for a long time in his life.  We were glad he shared and were eager to do something about it but did not know what.  One group member suggested that we have synchronized prayer together.  We began praying every night at 9 as a family.  The next day he reported that he had slept 9 hours!  He said that was the first time he had that well of rest in ages!  We were so thrilled.  Man, God answers prayers!

I also spoke with another brother about the power of prayer and he had a miraculous witness!  We were talking about how God moves in different ways either through transcendent means (supernatural) or imminent means (normal everyday).  He told me how after playing a game of basketball a friend of his heard that he had been having knee trouble for a few years now.  That friend kindly asked if he could pray over him.  His friend bent and touched his knee and prayed for healing.  My friend in faith believed that God would answer the prayer.  He said his knee felt better after the prayer but he didn’t think much about it after that. It wasn’t until the next day that he realized the miracle that had occurred.  When he got to his office the next day he realized that his knee wasn’t aching from climbing the stairs.  It had been years since he had no pain from the stairway.  In that moment he gave glory to God and rejoiced for his healing! God answers prayers! 

Two things I want to encourage you in today are that God is a God who cares for his people.  He listens and responds to our prayers.  There are no prayers that go unanswered.  The answers are either no so we do not receive what we desire, or yes and we do. But God always answers and we can be confident that when he answers it is for his glory firstly but always for our benefit.  He loves us and seeks to create and mold us to represent the glory that he originally desired in our creation.  And secondly I want to say God still does miracles through our prayers.  Our prayers are one of the modes or methods for how he establishes our part in the redeeming of the world.  It's because we make these requests known, then see him working them out, that we can witness and then glory God in our lives and learn to trust him more! 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

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 5:16

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18