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Prayer Is Power

This was once an area of life in which I struggled. It was because I had the wrong mentality about prayer and was ignorant of its power. I will forever be thankful for God’s grace during those years.

I felt unimportant to God.

I was lazy in prayer.

If I didn’t receive the answers I expected, I figured God didn’t care.

I was completely unaware of the power of prayer.

Sound familiar? I discovered after studying the Word that my previous way of thinking was far from the truth.

Let’s look at what the word says:

· “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

What? God does care about us as individuals, as evidenced by the instruction not to be anxious or worry, but instead to come directly to Him in prayer. Notice how we are to pray, with ‘thanksgiving’, letting our requests be made known.

· “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 NKJV

Woah! We are told of the power that is at work when a righteous person prays and intercedes for another person.

· Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV

I have had people say, “I wish I could pray like that person.” The disciples asked Jesus to help them know how to pray. What we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer is not this long, drawn-out prayer, but one of simplicity. God wants our words to be from our hearts. He doesn’t want them to be showy for people. He warned the Pharisees about showy prayer. Matthew 6:5

Prayer: Lord, help us not struggle in prayer, but say what is in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.