One of the pillars of the Christian faith is prayer and it is essential in every Christian’s life. The Bible, from which we draw guidance and faith, also gives numerous accounts of the awesome power of prayer, from the Old Testament to the New.
But what is it about prayer that makes it so powerful? Why is it declared in James 5:16 that, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”? To understand this, we first have to understand what prayer is.
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer – Mark 9:29
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours
Simply put, prayer is the act of communicating with God. And just like our mobile phones allow us to reach friends and family at any time of the day, prayer helps us
reach God who is always willing to hear us. E. M. Bounds also beautifully said, “Prayer is the outstretched arms of the child for the Father’s help.”
In the Bible, we can find copious verses on the power of prayer. Through prayer, death has been overpowered (2Kings 4:3-36), demons vanquished (Mark 9:29), and even God’s mind has been changed (Exodus 32:7-14). But one of the most remarkable accounts of the effectiveness of prayer is Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal.
Elijah was a man of prayer and he did so with confidence. After initially praying that it would not rain for three years, he again prayed for the drought to end. But the
answer didn’t come immediately. 1 Kings 18:42b-45 tells us, “Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bent down to the ground, and put his face between his knees” to pray for rain. It took seven attempts before the first signs of rain came but eventually, the sky grew black with clouds”, and, “a heavy rain started falling“.
The Bible also makes us understand that the power of prayer does not lie in the number of words used, or how loud our voices are. Jesus advised us in Matthew 6:7-8, not to keep on babbling like pagans. The key, therefore, to a powerful and effective prayer is faith. .
Elijah wasn’t afraid to make stupendous requests because he had faith in the God of the universe. Jesus, while on earth, knew his authority as the son of God and
wasn’t afraid to use it. He said in Mark 11: 24, “Therefore I tell you, whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” That’s faith!
When we go to God in prayer let us go first with a heart of gratitude, believing that He is able and willing to hear us and fulfill our petitions; whether we are thanking Him for food on our table or asking Him for the healing of a loved one.
James 5:13-15 also tells us, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sings songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
”You may ask, ‘how do I start a powerful prayer?’ Well, there are no hard-and-fast rules. The key is knowing that God is not just the Almighty ruler of the universe, he is also our Father. How would a son talk to a Father whom he loves and knows loves him in return? With trepidation? Most definitely not! He would speak confidently. John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.”
There are no limits to the power of prayer, just as there is no limit to the power of God or how much faith we can have. So, whatever is your petition today, take it to God with boldness, knowing that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
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