The Power of Our Prayers
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 (NIV)
“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. it changes me.” C.S. Lewis
Prayer plays a central role in our faith. Prayer changes our lives, mends our broken relationships, heals our bodies, reunites our families. Prayer is the single most powerful weapon we have in combating the fears, lies, and doubts of a shattered world.
Prayer has the power to truly transform us!
Jesus made prayer a part of his daily life. The New Testament records at least 25 times where Jesus prays, and in his most important moments, he always found a quiet place to go to God in prayer (for instance, in Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, and Luke 9:18). Even for Jesus, prayer was his way to communicate with and find guidance from God.
Prayer is the language of our relationship with God, our means to connect with Him, to express ourselves, and to receive. Prayer defines our relationship God. Prayer is how we spend time with Him. Prayer helps us see, hear, and follow the Lord.
There are many reasons why we pray.
- God is our rock and refuge (Psalm 46:1-5)
- God is our strength (Isaiah 45:24)
- God is our salvation (Exodus 15:2)
- God is our deliverer (Matthew 6:13)
- God is our provider (Philippians 4:19)
To have an intimate relationship with God requires spending time with Him in prayer, stillness and listening. It is the very foundation of how All Things Faithful began, through prayer and obedience.
What happens when we turn to God in prayer?
Scripture describes the power of our prayers, assuring us that when we pray according to God’s will, our prayers are unstoppable (John 15:7). Indeed, there are many passages in the Bible that describe God hearing and answering prayers (Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14, Matthew 7:7, to name a few)
How important is prayer in your daily routine? In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Most of us would admit our prayer lives don’t quite match these instructions and could use some improvement! Pressures, busy lives, appointments … we feel it all the time! In this
increasingly connected and non-stop world, our prayers often become a few quick words in the morning or a brief blessing at dinner. And sometimes we simply don’t pray at all!
The real question is, are we too busy not to pray? Martin Luther wrote, “I have so much to do I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Lack of time should never stop us from devoting time to reading God’s Word and talking with Him in prayer. In fact, it’s essential to having peace and hope in our life and the lives of our loved ones.
Making prayer a priority in our lives creates a crucial compass for our walks with God. In a busy world, one way to do this is by setting aside a specific time and place every day to meet with God. Perhaps first thing in the morning or last thing before closing your eyes. Regardless, make it a non-negotiable commitment.
Consider using a Prayer Journal that will help keep track of your prayers and how God responds! You can find several of our favorite prayer journals here.
May God always guide your path.
René and Robin