Articles
The Power of Prayer
Do
you believe in the power of prayer? The answer to this question can
be determined by looking at your prayer life.
When was the last time you said a prayer and you weren’t
eating? How often do you
spend time alone with God in prayer?
Surveys indicate that most Americans say they believe in the
power of prayer. But the same surveys reveal that many go for days,
weeks, months, and in some cases years between prayers.
According to the Bible prayer is an integral part of the
Christian life. The Scriptures are filled with examples of prayer
and the habits some formed with their prayer life.
Daniel prayed three times a day, Jesus spent all night in
prayer before appointing the apostles, and Paul prayed for the many
converts he made throughout the
Roman Empire.
Muslims pray five times a day.
What about you?
If your prayer life is
anything less than great it could be the result of…
1.
Not believing that God intends to answer prayer.
Some have actually taught that prayer is only therapeutic.
The idea is that as long as we express ourselves in prayer
the better we feel about our situation in life.
But how can prayer to an un-attentive God bring peace of mind
or provide solutions to my daily concerns? The Bible is clear on the
matter …”Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we
ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that
He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we have asked of Him” 1 John
5:14-16.
2.
Not believing that God will answer MY prayer.
For the most part many fail in their prayer life because they
see themselves as wholly inadequate in the sight of God.
While it is true that God will not hear the prayer of the
wicked (Isaiah 59:1-2; I Peter 3:12),
He does have respect for the prayer of the humble. Isaiah said it
this way, “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a
contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word” (Isa 66:2)
Remember the two who went into the temple to pray and what
Jesus said of the one who would not so much as lift his eyes to
heaven? (Luke 18:13)
3.
Not seeing immediate results. Too often we expect God to
operate on our timetable and in our way.
We must remember that God is much wiser than we are and is
able to see things from a much broader perspective.
In other words we need to trust Him and His judgment. Jesus
taught a valuable lesson on prayer and patience in Luke 18.
He began this way, “he spake a parable unto them to this end,
that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”.
God will provide the answer we need but we must trust Him to
deliver in the time that is best.
Prayer
is a good indicator of our faith and love for God.
How is your prayer life?
