THE POWER OF PRAYER
We really can’t hide the
impact of the POWER OF PRAYER. Praying is the means of our communication to God
while Bible reading is the way God communicates to us. All prayers are directly
communicated to Him and there is no such thing as median. Prayers are being
heard by God but not all were granted or not all were granted immediately.
There are only three
answers to our prayer:
1. Yes: God granted our prayer.
2. No : Our prayer is not the God’s will and He
may have a better plan for us than what we are praying for.
3. Wait : It seems that God is not answering
our prayer. We may assume that it is a “NO”, but if we continue praying
optimistically and faithfully, at the end we would find out that God granted
our prayer, though we waited for a long period of time, God answered in His
perfect way and time.
THE PROPER ATTITUDE IN
PRAYING
First thing first, Ask
for God’s guidance. – Lord, teach us how to pray.
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was
praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him,
Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
1. Pray Sincerely :
Mat 6:5:”And when thou
prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be
seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their rewarded.”
We should pray sincerely. We are praying because we want to talk to God,
to seek His will and ask for His forgiveness for all the sins we have done. God
wants to see our truthful heart in praying. A sincere heart will open the path
of our perfect communication with God. Do not be hypocrite because even if we
are, God is omniscient, He knows all about us from head to foot.
1 Pet 3:12: For the eyes of the
Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but
the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil.
1. Be Honest – Be honest
to God to what we really need, what is our motive and tell Him all the things
about this prayer.
2. Be Humble – Admit that
without God, we can do nothing. Trust and lean unto God and acknowledge His
power.
3. Be heartfelt – The
sincerity, openness and the full desire are the key to a heartful communication
to God.
2. Pray Secretly
Mat. 6:6 :“But thou, when
thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy Father which
is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”
Praying is a private communication between you and God. God do not want a
“show-off” prayer. We do not pray just to impress other people who are seeing
us pray. When we pray secretly, God will reward us openly. This doesn’t refrain
us to let other people know that we do praying. This is just to avoid
unrighteous motive in praying. And also, the place where we should pray should
be secluded where you can focus only to God. Where you could pray aloud and no
one could distract you.
3. Pray Sacredly
Mat. 6:7 :“But when ye
pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they
shall be heard for their much speaking.
8: But not ye therefore
like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye
ask him.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling
like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do
not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Prayer as always been said, is a personal communication to God. You are talking
to Him heart to heart and when you are talking to Him, say what’s in your
heart. Do not be robotic. We do not need a script or a repetitive dialogue. God
only wants to hear what is in our hearts the time we pray.A sacred prayer
consists of a righteous heart, truthful spirit, a humble mind and the full
desire to worship our Almighty Father.
Psalm 66: 13 - 20: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:
Powers of Prayer
Healing power
James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let
him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one
who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he
will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one
another,that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Psalm 4:1 :Hear me when I call, O
God of my righteousness: you have enlarged me when I was in distress; have
mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
Providing Power
Matt: 7: 7-8: Ask, and it shall be
given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Phil 4:6: Be careful for nothing;
but in ever thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God.
Strengthening
Power
Philippians 4:13 : I can do
all things through him who strengthens me.
2 Timothy 1:7 : for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of
power and love and self-control.
2 Thessalonians 3:13: As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in
doing good.
Galatians 6:9: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for
in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Romans 12:12: Rejoice in hope, be patient in
tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and
a hope.
Peace-providing
Power
Romans 8:6: For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Encouraging
Power
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers,
admonish the idle encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with
them all.
Joy-providing
Power
Proverbs 17:22 A joyful
heart is good medicine, But a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Experiencing the Power of
Prayer
I really waited for quite so long to finish this devotion because I
wanted to have a personal testimony for this message but then I am still
waiting for God’s answer to my most recent prayer. I tried to use other’s
experience just to have a testimony segment in this post, however; maybe God
still wants me to share mine. I know God spoke to me and taught me that
believing in the Power of Prayer is not based only on answered prayer.
Believing in the Power of Prayer is trusting His will even if we can’t see a clear
picture of His plan, even if there are a lot of questions bothering us and even
if He said “NO”.
I keep my prayer/s open to my brethren because I believe that most of my
prayers are being answered because my church is also praying for me which I am
really grateful of. In every single event in my life, I always consider my
family in Christ a great blessing because they always provide support and
prayer and so, I also wanted to share how I was blessed by this learning
experience.
Let me start my testimony, When I reached my third year of working in IT
Industry, I started praying for a new career where I will find a better
opportunity, a better learning experience and a job of my choice where I will
grow old with. Until one day, I finally decided to submit resume to one of the
companies I am eying. Still, under IT Industry related to Financial Industry,
Capital Markets and banking. The difference is, a new technology of expertise
is needed. Within the week when I submitted my CV, the recruitment personnel of
that company called me for an immediate interview, then, invited me for a
technical/situational interview with two of their Senior Managers and I went to
that interview. I did my best to prepare beforehand, did some review and be the
best of me not expecting to get that job at my own but to try if that would be
a God’s will. As I always say, we wouldn’t know until we tried. I keep on
saying to the Lord, I will not get disappointed if this will not work for me
because I am just seeking Your will Lord. After my interview with the Senior
Managers, I talked to the HR who was handling my application. I asked her how
long they usually revert to an applicant for a feedback, Is it possible to know
the result right after the interview? And she said ,”For about a week or two,
An applicant to get the result right after the interview? Well, that is rare”.
And then I went out of the office saying goodbye to that opportunity because I
know that the technology they are using is different with my expertise. While
looking for a bus going home, I received a call from their office requesting me
to go back and proceed to the next level of application which is situational
and psychometric examination. Hurray!! I couldn’t believe it. It’s God’s work!
After weekend, I took the technical exam. As I said, this is not my expertise.
But still, God’s work, I passed again and moved to the next step which is the
Interview with the Associate Director! Wow! Amazing...Applicants usually
conversed with him through Video call because he is based in Australia, but I
had the opportunity to meet him in person. Gladly, I passed this interview.
What I am waiting for is the Job Offer since I already passed the whole
process. Until one day, I received a regret mail saying that they can no longer
proceed to further steps with my application. The reason maybe, they found an
applicant who can work for them immediately because that is the only issue we
have with mine. After composing myself again, God told me to go back the
message I have above. Remember that there is only three answers to a prayer,
and now that my prayer is not a “Yes”, while I can’t say that it’s a “NO” yet,
It may be a “Wait”. I will keep on waiting for God’s perfect will and plan for
me on His perfect time. A better plan than what I am expecting. Just keep on
praying with proper attitude, pray sincerely, pray secretly and pray sacredly
PLUS keep the faith!, A faith that can move a mountain.
Matt. 17:20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your
unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard
seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it
shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
