Prayer is one of the most powerful tools that God has chosen to change the lives of people. It’s the way we talk to Him and Him to us. The way prayer works cannot be explained by human mind because it’s entirely supernatural in the sense that God listens and responds to the petitions and the cries of His people when they call to Him. The bible records many instances where God urged his people to seek him with all their hearts and with all their minds and they will find Him.
Some one may ask why God watch people go through challenges without doing anything until they call to Him. My response to these will be, prayer is not just a way of speaking to God but also a discipline where God trains people how to put their trust in Him.
James emphasizes this fact by saying that the prayer offered by faith is powerful and effective. Faith here shows trust and total dependence. “Without faith it impossible to please God” Heb 11:6a. God is pleased by those who do anything with total trust and dependence on him.
James mentions how prayer works out miraculous in the natural world and makes impact in people’s lives. There are things He suggests that engages the prayer of faith; e.g. asking elders of the Church to pray for you and to anoint you with oil. Elders in today’s set up can refer to those who are leaders and mature Christians among us. The prayer of faith is effective and powerful to make the sick well; though he/she has sinned, the Lord will forgive him. Another aspect added in v 16b is the ‘prayer of a righteous man’. This means is not just a prayer offered by faith but by a righteous man.
Prayers that are hindered by the sins of the people and the best way to approach God’s throne is by first cleansing ourselves before making our requests made known to Him. In teaching his disciple to pray, Jesus responded to their request and taught them how to approach God’s throne through prayer.
‘Teach us” should be the prayer of every Christian heart’ said DL moody. “Each Christian should ask himself the question, "Can I pray this prayer?" This prayer has been called by a good many "the Lord's prayer," but it wasn't; it was the disciples' prayer. The disciples had been with Jesus, and He was praying. And when He finished, they said to Him, "Teach us, Lord, how to pray." They didn't ask him to teach them how to preach; man knows how to do that; but they wanted to know how to pray. They'd all soon know how to preach if they only knew how to pray” moody.
Among those who affected their world through prayer is Elijah. James tells us that he was a man like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced it’s its crops. V17-18. Elijah was upright before the Lord and had total trust upon the Lord that when he prays, the Lord will hear him.
In conclusion, God is interested in our hearts when praying and not the many words we can mention before. He is always willing to respond to our requests when we have no other way to depend on apart from Him.
Thought for today:
Psalm 62:2
Some one may ask why God watch people go through challenges without doing anything until they call to Him. My response to these will be, prayer is not just a way of speaking to God but also a discipline where God trains people how to put their trust in Him.
James emphasizes this fact by saying that the prayer offered by faith is powerful and effective. Faith here shows trust and total dependence. “Without faith it impossible to please God” Heb 11:6a. God is pleased by those who do anything with total trust and dependence on him.
James mentions how prayer works out miraculous in the natural world and makes impact in people’s lives. There are things He suggests that engages the prayer of faith; e.g. asking elders of the Church to pray for you and to anoint you with oil. Elders in today’s set up can refer to those who are leaders and mature Christians among us. The prayer of faith is effective and powerful to make the sick well; though he/she has sinned, the Lord will forgive him. Another aspect added in v 16b is the ‘prayer of a righteous man’. This means is not just a prayer offered by faith but by a righteous man.
Prayers that are hindered by the sins of the people and the best way to approach God’s throne is by first cleansing ourselves before making our requests made known to Him. In teaching his disciple to pray, Jesus responded to their request and taught them how to approach God’s throne through prayer.
‘Teach us” should be the prayer of every Christian heart’ said DL moody. “Each Christian should ask himself the question, "Can I pray this prayer?" This prayer has been called by a good many "the Lord's prayer," but it wasn't; it was the disciples' prayer. The disciples had been with Jesus, and He was praying. And when He finished, they said to Him, "Teach us, Lord, how to pray." They didn't ask him to teach them how to preach; man knows how to do that; but they wanted to know how to pray. They'd all soon know how to preach if they only knew how to pray” moody.
Among those who affected their world through prayer is Elijah. James tells us that he was a man like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced it’s its crops. V17-18. Elijah was upright before the Lord and had total trust upon the Lord that when he prays, the Lord will hear him.
In conclusion, God is interested in our hearts when praying and not the many words we can mention before. He is always willing to respond to our requests when we have no other way to depend on apart from Him.
Thought for today:
Psalm 62:2
He only is my Rock! I shall not be moved.- God is the rock on which you can stand.- This speaks of Permanence, Stability and Divine Protection.- God wants to be all of this for you.- BUT He must be your ONLY rock!- THEN you can be secure no matter what storms may come.
PRAYER: Lord, I declare that you are my ONLY rock. As I trust you I can stand secure. In Jesus Name. AMEN
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