The Power of Prayer
Do you find praying a challenge?
I think it is an area that many of us struggle with. At our recent housegroup we focused on it, in order to try and help rectify that situation.
Prayer is powerful because God commands us to do it, and it is a way of communicating with him daily. John (1John 5 v 14-15) presents three key thoughts to effective prayer:
1, Ask in prayer,
2, Pray according to his will, and
3, Pray with faith. This is when when we can open our hearts to him and he is able to work through us to further his will.
In the Bible the power of prayer stems not from the person praying, but from our God who hears and answers us.This enables us to communicate with our creator, align to God’s will and receive his strength to overcome our challenges.
The power of prayer can transform individuals, bring revival and bring protection from sin.
Matthew 7 v7:
“Ask, and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you”
Mark 11 v24:
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Also remember Colossians 3 v17:
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Some days we need more encouragement to pray and it is in difficult times and situations we all tend to turn to God more for help. This could be for sick or anxious friends or relatives, or other difficult scenarios.
Consider James 5 v14-16:
“ls any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Also Philippians 4 v 6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
But it is equally important to be thankful when when we have times of joy and offer gratitude for life’s happy events and milestones.
It was suggested that a 10 minute daily devotion in the early part of the day can help with focus, reduce stress and strengthen our spiritual connection with God. This enables the day to begin with purpose, gratitude and peace. It provides a positive mindset to face the day’s challenges with greater clarity, confidence and spiritual grounding. If you wish to break it down further a possible framework is using ACTS, (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) which can be helpful.
Always remember that the main purpose of Prayer is to stay connected to God, and be comforted in knowing that he is with us , especially during the hard and difficult times.
Perhaps you can think of your own particular times when you have turned to God for comfort and solace to help you through your own difficulties or crisis? Remember that Ephesians 3 v16 states:
“l pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being.”
The following prayer was probably based on this passage:
“Lord, I pray for the power of Your Spirit to fill my life and strengthen my inner being. Help me to be rooted and grounded in Your love, so that I am not shaken by life’s challenges. Give me wisdom to know how to pray and a renewed heart to pray with faith and trust, believing that You are near and Your word is true. Open my eyes to see Your hand at work, and help me to live in a way that brings You glory. Amen”.
Heather, Lesley and Mike.