There is Power in Prayer

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Sometimes I think the hardest part of being a Christian is acknowledging the fact that there are many of those we hold deeply in our hearts do not profess the same convictions that we do. They do not recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; they may not even acknowledge God. It might be parents, siblings, nieces, nephews or friends and neighbors. No matter, whoever that person is, as a Christian it causes me pain, anxiety, and fear.

Fear, yes. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, many in my life fit into the non-Christian category. And it causes me pain but mostly it makes me very fearful. I know where I will be when I leave this life, and that thought gives me great pleasure. But I also know it is only by the grace of my Father and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I have been given that opportunity. It was given to me as a choice, and I took it, I chose it.

I also know at the day of judgment EVERY KNEE shall bow and EVERY TONGUE shall confess.

Isaiah 45:22-23 Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me, every tongue will swear.

Philippians 2:10-11…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When I read these scriptures, I see the one I hold dear with a hand on the back of their neck being forced to kneel and to bow – reluctant even at that moment. My heart breaks and I know it breaks the heart of my Father that it has to be done. Will we watch in horror emitting cries of anguish as those we have loved and cherished on this earth will be turned away? It is a vision that puts me to my knees.

Faithful to the Call to Pray

Uncovering the power of prayerMaybe that is a good thing, that I see that, that I feel that now while I am still here on the earth. My mother lived until she was almost ninety-nine. The last few years she experienced dementia. Up until that time she prayed that God would take her home, we (her children) all said God needed her here to pray for all of us. And pray she did constantly without ceasing. I often wonder in her years of dementia if she still prayed, I believe that sense was so strongly seated within her spirit that she did. I know her intercessory prayers helped led me to where I am now. She stood in the “gap” for me.

Ezekiel 22:30 I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and standing the gap before me for the land so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

No one, not one. Was I called to be that one and I ignored that call? Did I choose to turn away and not see another destined for death? Was I too embarrassed, too cowardly, too afraid of offending them? That thought makes me cry and grips me with fear. We are called to stand in the gap- to intercede for people – to pray for them. I believe without a doubt we are called to do just that.

This scripture gives me comfort, I know without a doubt that prayer is strong, very powerful.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14: 13-14

WOW, do I have that kind of faith. I pray I do, and I pray that I can through my prayers help to change the lives of those I love and maybe those we especially do not like but need our prayer. Or maybe it is someone we have never met or never will meet. Until that one day in eternity, someone comes up to us and says “you don’t know me, but do you remember…”

Being Open to Opportunities to Pray

A close friend and sister in Christ loves to dumpster dive. She was on vacation in another city – another state and was looking into a dumpster when she spotted a pack of greeting cards. They had been tossed but were all written by the same person. My friend re-purposes cards and therefore excitedly snatched them from their demise. Her heart was touched by the written phrases in the cards. It has been put on her heart to pray for the young woman who had written them. Is this mystery woman currently a Christian? My friend has no clue and of course, knows nothing really about her except her first name. But God knows her and knows she needs my friend to pray for her. How cool is that?

Every Sunday at the end of our church service we close with the whole congregation singing the chorus of Lead Me Lord.

Lead me Lord,
I will follow.
Lead me Lord I will go.
You have called me, I will answer.
Lead me Lord, I will go.

We can sing it, say it, pray it; but we must choose to do it. Does that mean we stand on the street corner and shout the Gospel, how good it would be if that were effective, we know it usually is not? Past experience has certainly taught me that I can preach and talk until I am blue in the face. I know my words fall on deaf ears. In fact, if I continue not only will it not be heard but those I am trying to convince will only be stronger in their convictions against God and Jesus Christ. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

Therefore I am left only with prayer and the showing of how I live my life. Hoping I will let the light of Christ shine through me by my actions, not my preaching. That leaves me with 3 actions:

  1. If the word has been given – it is there.  It may only be a tiny seed but that small seed can be nurtured and cultivated – not by me, that is up to God. It is amazing to see how God sets people and circumstances into lives. At just the right time and the right place.
  2. Give my loved one over to God. This for me is the most challenging part because I MUST leave them in his hands and ask for whatever it takes to soften their hearts, open their eyes and free their minds. Realizing that might not be pretty. I have to TRUST. God knows the plans; we have to pray into His plans.
  3. Ask.  God knows what is in our hearts, but He wants us to ask for it. Pray without ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

[Tweet “Have you used your superpower recently –the power of prayer?”]

Joining Together in Prayer

Pray and trust, pray and trust, pray and trust. That is all I can do, and as a Christian that is what I must do, it is my duty. I know God hears my prayer and I know he answers them. I just have to be patient and wait; I may not live to see the answers because his timing is not my timing. But I KNOW the prayer will be answered.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9

I have a friend that prays with me on Monday morning at 6:30 am. We pray for a specific people and specific results; with hopes of bringing that person to Christ. We are not in the same place, but I know we are praying together. When Gods put something or someone on your heart, don’t turn it away, find a prayer partner; someone who knows the person and the situation. Ask them to pray with you; set a specific day and time that works for both of you and then DO IT. Then watch God at work. THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER!

In what ways have you discovered opportunities to pray for others in your daily life? Share in the comments below

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Comments

  1. Faith says

    Three days miracle prayer to the Holy Spirit

    Holy Spirit, you who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideals.
    You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done
    to me and you who are in all instances of my life with me.
    I, in this short dialogue want to thank you for everything, and confirm once
    more that I never want to be seperated from you, no matter how great the material desires may be.
    I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory.
    Amen.

  2. Pooja Rajpal says

    It was worth reading your blog. My life has changed since practicing this prayer power. I am glad that people like us are spreading the awarness of practicing the spiritual power. So I have also come on the platform where I can share my experience how the divine energy transforms our life. Please do read my blogs related to mental health. And please share with everyone.

    Good day!
    Pooja

  3. Care says

    Thank you for this reminder to pray even when (especially when!) we might not personally know the person we are praying for. When I was a brand new Christian…circa 1974 or so) I was riding a city bus and at one of the stops there was a couple standing outside their apartment arguing and yelling at each other. I still pray for them even though I have no clue whatsoever who it was or what was going on. But every time they come to my mind, I pray even all these years later. Who knows but maybe there is someone praying for me who doesn’t know me……. 🙂 Again, thank you for taking the time to share your heart with us. I love reading your posts and I love you as well. But you already know that part. xoxoxo

    • Patricia says

      Ann, I appreciate your taking the time to read the post. Many times the only thing worth sharing is our heart.
      Again thank you and may our Lord bless you.
      Patricia

  4. Jean Thompson says

    Thank you Pat for these great reminders and these words that encourage me to keep on praying. I must accept the fact that I may not see my prayers answered in my lifetime but it is my job to continue to pray and trust the Lord. Thank you for listening to the Lord and being a vessel for Him to work through. Your words of hope and inspiration are much needed and appreciated. God Bless you <3

    • Patricia says

      Jean, thank you for your encouraging words to keep keeping on for our Lord. The hardest thing for me to accept is the fact that I probably will not see many of my prayers answered. It makes me think of the Prophets of the old testament and how anxious they must have been at times. They did have one thing I so often lack and that was TRUST.
      God bless you, Jean.
      Patricia

  5. Sue Snow says

    Thank you, Pat. It was always hardest to be a witness with my own family… Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters. Only one brother is left, and I know I need to pray more for him and for opportunities to talk to Him. Thanks for a great blog! People need the Lord!

    • Patricia says

      Sue, thank you for reading my post. Wow, being a witness to one’s own family is the hardest. Even our Lord knew that when he went back home to teach.
      Keep praying Sue, doors are opened when we least expect it.
      God’s blessing on you and yours.
      Patricia

  6. Lorrie Meister says

    Pray without ceasing <3 Pat, there is so much I would like to say but simply can not put into words at the moment. I hope to read this again and again…and again 🙂 THANK YOU for sharing your gift with others, you are a blessing!

    • Patricia says

      Lorrie, I am sure you as a mom understand the constant need for praying without ceasing. Thank you for reading my post, I am glad it was an encouragement to you.
      God Bless you and your family.

      Patricia

  7. Amy says

    Pat, this…just this!
    I look back over my years as a child of God and marvel at how my prayers have changed.
    I Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
    For me this truly resonates with my prayers. As a mother with adult children who “seem” to have forgotten or strayed from Christ, I pray for them, for their hearts that they may seek him out. I continue to struggle with “his time” and “his answers” and pray for that as well.

    More often than not I have witnessed the true and AWESOME power of prayer and in turn offer back prayers of Thanksgiving and Praise!!

    Thank you for your beautiful words.

    • Patricia says

      Thank you Amy, the struggle with His timing and answers are always the hardest I feel. I tend to want everything “right now”. It is hard to learn that it just doesn’t work that way. His timing is not ours and His ways are not ours. Prayers are the only thing that keep me going some times.

      Thank you and may God bless your day
      Patricia

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