When asking someone about the power of prayer, you are likely to get many answers. For some, it involves a heartfelt conversation with God. For others, it is a ritual they perform regularly. But despite the varied responses, there seems to be one common theme—prayer, which is an integral part of many people’s lives.
So what is prayer[1]? The definition can be pretty elusive, but prayer is communication with a higher power at its core. It can help us express gratitude, ask for help, or connect with something bigger than ourselves. Prayer can be used in any religion or spiritual practice, and there are no set rules on how to do it.
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Why Is It Powerful?
People believed in the old expression “God helps those who help themselves” for the longest time. However, it should not be new to all followers of Jesus that this saying does not follow the scriptures. The truth about prayer is that it does not come from the idea that we believe we can help ourselves. Its roots are in the fact that we, as mortal beings, cannot help ourselves with all the endeavors we face.
Luke 18:9–14 says, “To some who were confident of their righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'”
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven but beat his breast and say, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
With a parable, Jesus emphasized the differences between the two praying men. One prayed with confidence, knowing that he had done it correctly, following the instructions of God. On the other hand, the other person praying could not even lift his eyes toward heaven, yet he has all the good things in life. The fact that these two people can be explained further for two essential reasons:
Reality
The reason why the power of prayer exceeds expectations is that people pray with their realities. Simply put, a person does not hide his situation or how he feels about it. Some of us desire it like the pharisee in the parable.
Some of us are approaching God in such a way that we need to come before Him, believing that we have everything under control. However, experiencing the genuine power of prayer requires us to come before God just as we are. In that way, we can have a good perspective on how God works in our lives.
Humility
The power of prayer lies in the fact that we humble ourselves before the Lord and accept the truth that we can never surpass or challenge Him without His help. When you invite the presence of God in your present circumstances during your prayers and acknowledge what you have, you can experience the true power of our prayers.
Benefits Of Prayer
The power of prayer offers people numerous benefits. However, to find answers, one must first ask. Likewise, to experience God’s truth and receive the mighty miracles of the Lord Jesus through prayer, we must first acknowledge that through prayer, we renounce our faith and admit that we are never in control of our demons. Here are five excellent reasons why praying is vital in our walk as Christians:
Prayer Brings Peace To The Anxious Body And Soul
The power of prayer allows us to feel calm and find grace amidst the chaos. Prayer brings forth the answer that our hearts look for when our anxiety seems to take control of our actions, thoughts, and relationships.
The answers and wisdom we accept through prayer enable us to defy the impossible and gain an understanding of our present circumstances. It teaches us that the things that cause distress are transitory and are just a fraction of the kingdom of God that we are bound to receive after our physical death on this earth.
Praying Improves Faith In The Heavenly Father
Praying saves us from our worldly desires and helps us realize the most important thing that we need as we stand before the throne of God Almighty. Yes, we have committed sins in the past, but just like Dismas, who had faith in Christ until his last breath (Luke 23:33–45), we need to keep our faith in Him and His words.
Praying allows us to worship our Lord God Almighty, and with every prayer we utter, we strengthen our connection with the Lord and realize that faith is more than just believing that there is a higher being who is Jesus Christ. True faith involves an unshakable trust in the all-powerful God, whose influence is far superior to any.
Prayers Remind Us Of All The Mighty Things Done By God
As humans, we quickly forget what has happened prior to our present circumstances. Through prayer, our spirit is reminded of the sacrifices made by our Lord God Jesus to bring us into the desired haven after our physical death on earth.
God’s word is more powerful than any righteous man in this world. God’s presence and wisdom are incomprehensible. Ultimately, God’s great power resides within us all, and for us to feel his Holy Spirit, we must first believe in His capability to take away anyone’s sin and receive mercy and pardon through supplication.
Prayers allow you to be like a mustard seed and grow without constraints in God’s glory and revelation. It remains to us that the desires of this earth are incomparable with the heavenly desires that the Lord God planted within us at the beginning of creation.
Prayer Helps Us Draw Closer To Jesus’ Words
On any occasion, may it be a prayer meeting, bible study, or church delegation, prayer with utmost intentionality allows us to be blessed with God’s word and overcome every crashing wave that comes into our lives. Prayer is the only way to communicate with the Father, but we can always desire wisdom from Bible verses.
Through prayer, we teach ourselves not to focus our attention on the enemy and, with confidence, draw strength and inspiration from God. It reminds us that no matter what trouble we run into, God still hears us and grants every soul an underserved blessing that drives away fear and heals spiritual wounds.
Prayer Strengthens Connection With God From The Heavens
The church teaches us to see faith beyond traditions and practices. They emphasize and encourage the purposeful building of relationships with our God, the Father. Aside from reading Bible verses and sharing the gospel, prayers are a great way to listen to God, receive grace and peace, and build a strong relationship with our Lord.
Prayers disconnect us from our earthly views and change our perspectives on many other things. It teaches us to build strong beliefs that are anchored in the living word of God. In creating an eternal connection with the Lord God, we also learn that Jesus rebukes no individual who seeks repentance and forgiveness, even a self-righteous person who has come to his senses and asked for forgiveness for all of his sins.
How To Tap Into The Power Of Prayer?
To tap into the power of prayer, we must first acknowledge that God’s name and the peace it brings exceed any religious or traditional prayer requests. On bended knees, speak with genuine thoughts and allow God to hear your righteous cry. Take a moment and let your thoughts surface from the deepest parts of your heart.
Without many words, whisper to him the predominant struggles you have right now. Ask for healing for the physical and spiritual wounds you have collected throughout the years. Be honest with how you feel and seek special offers if need be.
Confess to the Lord the sins you have committed throughout your life and know that the Lord hears and answers prayer regardless of your circumstances. Seek answers to all your questions. Pray and offer your gratitude to the Ruler of this earth, for His reign will never be corrupted by evil.
How To Work With God’s Power?
Working with the power of God begins with recognition. As a believer in Him, you must acknowledge His presence, just like all the other saints and disciples. Heal yourself from the past and outgrow your weak self, as, in Christ, you are called to be stronger than your older self.
Recognize the power of prayer and trust in all of His ways as you navigate all the obstacles in this world. Offer your thanksgiving and be glad that you have cried and prayed earnestly for your voice to be heard. Give in to God’s power and remember that you are just a channel for his greatness. Let him use you for whatever reason and live a life anchored in Christ, just like all His disciples did.
How To Exercise Authority In Prayer?
One of the essential aspects of prayer is learning to exercise authority. This means learning how to take control of the situation and speaking to God in a way that shows we are confident in His power and our ability to receive what we are asking for. There are many ways to do this, but here are a few tips.
First, be clear and specific in your prayers. Don’t just ask for general things like “peace” or “wisdom.” Ask for what you need specifically, and be as detailed as possible. This will help you focus your thoughts and better communicate with God. Second, always approach prayer with a sense of humility. Remember that you are speaking to the Creator of the universe, and don’t try to act like you’re above Him.
Third, always pray in faith. When you ask for something and expect to get it, the very act of asking implies your faith. Finally, always pray with a spirit of thanksgiving. When you ask for something, be sure to thank God for His blessings and praise Him for all that He has done.
Conclusion
Many people believe that prayer is nothing more than a waste of time. Others may also think that it is useless for them to pray because they don’t believe in the existence of God. However, there are also many people who believe that the power of prayer is real and can be used to help them in their lives.
Prayer can be used to ask for guidance, help, or pardon. Prayer can also be used to give thanks for the good things in life. Ultimately, prayer can help people communicate with God and accept Him as the redeemer of men.
Thank you for this beautiful writing on the power of prayer. It is inspirational and very helpful.
I really appreciate if GOD ACTUALLY SHOWED UP IN MY LIFE IN JANUARY 2023.
I’M BEYOND REPETITIVE PRAYERS.
Good day
It’s a great pleasure,I got it.May God bless.