“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). Prayer is communication with God Almighty, the Christian’s ‘heavenly Father.’ During prayer, we direct our thoughts toward God to make known to Him our needs and wishes. And also to wait for His response to our request(s).
It is not that God doesn’t know what we are going to pray about before we do. God is omniscient, that is, He is all-knowing. He knows everything in the past and in the future. And that includes us as well. He promises, “Before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).
God’s way is always through prayer, and prayer definitely works with God. The Bible says: “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). Note: “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”
Prayer should be a way of life for every Christian. Can I claim to know God, believe and trust in Him, and yet hardly spend time in prayer. The answer is an emphatic no. It is sensed that the reason why Christians do not pray as they ought to is because prayer is not regarded as an essential part of their daily life.
One of the great things about prayer is that we can pray silently or aloud. That choice is ours. Either way God hears and He will respond just the same. Silent praying is especially convenient when we are out in public and the need to pray arises. God has created in us the ability to do so.
What is the best posture to pray? One might ask. There are no set rules. We can pray while sitting, standing, lying, walking or kneeling. It depends on the individual’s preference. Some Christians believe kneeling while praying shows reverence and submission to God. Keep in mind it isn’t the posture but rather the condition of the person’s soul that matters.
God is accessible 24/7, and all year round. And prayer brings us into God’s immediate presence. A.W Tozer said, “The key to prayer is simply praying.” The Bible says, “For through [Christ] we both have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18).
When we take the time to pray, we are actually admitting the greatness, mercy, and love of God for us and also our complete dependence on Him. Prayer helps to strengthen and maintain our relationship with our heavenly Father. Hasn’t He said. “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Whatever God says, He means. And He absolutely means what He says. “God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change his mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19).
“Billy Graham said: Prayer is simply talking to God—and the most important thing I can say about this is that God wants you to talk to Him! He loves us and He has promised to hear us when we pray. How can you learn to pray? First, understand why prayer is possible.
“Prayer is possible because Jesus Christ has removed the barrier between us and God—a barrier caused by our sins. You see, sin separates us from God, and because of that we have no right to come before Him. But by His death on the cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sins and removed the barrier. God then gives us the privilege of coming into His presence when we commit our lives to Christ” (Excerpted from: “Prayer is simply talking to God” By Billy Graham July 1, 2004).
Over the years, Christians can testify to the power of prayer in their own lives and in the lives of others who have also experienced it. Let’s remember that God is ‘omnipotent,’ that is, God has unlimited power; He is able to do anything.
However, whereas God may not answer every prayer request that meets our expectations, we should never be disheartened. God hears every request, but He answers according to His will. The Scripture says. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20,21).
Let us pray . . .
“Dear God, create in me a great enthusiasm for prayer
Working nonstop in my heart and life from day to day.
I know you’ve said: “Call to me and I will answer you”
Therefore, I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and
Praise; and call upon the name of the Lord, my God.”
—Geoff Daniels 04/2024
It has been said, “Little prayer, little blessing.” “Much prayer, much blessing.” Most of us would choose to have “much blessing” rather than “little blessing.” Therefore, grasp every opportunity to lift up holy hands in prayer to experience the power of God working in our lives.