The Power of Prayer

"The prayer of a righteous man
is powerful and effective."
(James 5:16)
Do you ever wonder if your prayers matter? If God hears them? And, if He does, if they really make a difference? I mean, considering that He is sovereign and all.

I used to. Wonder, that is. I prayed all the time, all throughout the day, about everything. But, even as I prayed, I wondered if my prayers really mattered. I believed that God heard them; I just didn't know if they made a difference.

Have you been there? If so, or, if you're there now, let me assure you and encourage you that your prayers do matter. God does hear them. And, yes, they do make a difference ... even under the reign of a sovereign God.

What the Lord has taught me over the years is that prayer is my privilege; it is a blessing, not an obligation. Prayer is powerful and effective, not a fruitless exercise. Simply put, prayer an ongoing conversation with an all-knowing, all-seeing, ever-present God. I talk; God listens. God speaks; I listen. And, the "I listen" part is the toughest--and most important--end of the dialog.

Ever been stuck with someone who monopolizes the conversation? Ever been face-to-face with someone who talks about "Me, Myself, & I" all the time, without thinking to ask about you? Ever spoken with someone who downloads a litany of complaints and concerns and then moves on to the next victim--I mean the next conversation? Exhausting, isn't it? Tiring. Wearying. Life-sucking.

When we pray, when we talk to Him, the most important part of the conversation is His response. And, we need to stick around to hear it. It may be "No". It may be "Yes". It may be "Later". (And, sometimes I wonder if it is "You have GOT to be kidding Me!") But, beloved, be assured that He does answer.

The Lord listens, hears, and responds to the prayers of the righteous, to those who are earnestly seeking Him, to those who are repenting and crying out to Him, to those who revere Him. The greatest example is Jesus Himself. "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One Who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission." (Hebrews 5:7).

Jesus was God in flesh, yet He still prayed to the Father. Beloved, meditate upon this side of the conversation, and then consider the answer the Father gave Him in response to Jesus' most earnest prayer! "Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.' Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.' Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. 'Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?' He asked Peter. 'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.' He went away a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done. When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So He left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing." (Matthew 26:36-44; see also Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46).

All thanks, honor, praise, and glory to God for His answer that prayer! Otherwise, we would be doomed to eternal separation from Him.

Precious ones, I love the description of what transpired during this particular prayer, as recorded in Luke's gospel: "An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him." (Luke 22:43). Luke writes that Jesus was "in anguish", praying "earnestly" to the point that His sweat "was like drops of blood falling to the ground" (v. 44). Talk about prayer warriors! That was some zealous prayer.

And, beloved, although the Lord's will prevailed (and, again, praise Him that it did!), it encourages me to read that the Lord strengthened Jesus to receive His answer and endure His plan. Just reflect upon how passage from Hebrews 5 continues: "Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all Who obey Him and was designated by God to be High Priest in the order of Melchizedek." (v. 9-10).

Precious ones, there is so much be said about prayer; there is simply not enough room in one post to flesh it all out. And, today's writing certainly took a different direction that I had anticipated (which is a very good thing! Thank you, God!). Perhaps there will be additional posts on the subject; we will see how the Lord leads, but, as I close for today, I would like to leave you with some encouragement that I received from the Lord this week during my conversations with Him.

"I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. ... The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry; ... The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him."
(Psalm 34;
see also Psalm 55; 1 Peter 3:10-14)

Precious ones, the Lord's answer to your prayers may not be what you hope. But, you can be assured His answer is best. This side of heaven, we may not ever understand His response, but we can know for certain that He will strengthen us to live within it.

Precious Father, what a blessing and a privilege it is to take everything to You in prayer! It is so glorious--and so humbling--that You have given us complete access to You ... anytime and anywhere ... all the time and everywhere! I thank You for the ever-deepening intimacy that develops during our prayer conversations, and I thank You that even when I don't know what or how to pray, Your Spirit intercedes for me (reference Romans 8:26-27). I pray now and always in the name of Your Son, Jesus, "Who died—more than that, Who was raised to life—{and} is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for {me}" (Romans 8:34). Amen.

"For this reason
I kneel before the Father,
from Whom His whole family
in heaven and on earth
derives its name.
I pray that out of
His glorious riches
He may strengthen you
with power through His Spirit
in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you,
being rooted and established
in love,
may have power,
together will all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long
and high and deep
is the love of Christ,
and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge--
that you may be filled
to the measure
of all the fullness of God.
Now to Him Who is able
to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power
that is at work within us,
to Him be the glory
in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen."
(Ephesians 3:14-21)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "Soaked in Living Water"
• "Life is a Highway ..."
  
• "Forsaking My Pace ..."

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparkling Springs Say" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

Yay! My sister has resumed her "Thirstin' for the Word" Thursdays! Today, she's "Hearing Voices". Head on over with open ears! You will be blessed. :-)

Copyright 2009. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.