Power of Prayer
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer
Psalm 17:6
Have you prayed over and over for the same thing and are still waiting for God’s answer? The Bible states that God answers prayer when our prayers bring glory to God. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) We have this promise, but maybe God answers our prayers different from our expectations.
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16) Many people tend to forget that we are created by God and for God. We cannot live independent of God and expect him to answer our prayers. When we accept Christ as our Savior and strive to walk according to his will, as servants of God, he will hear and answer our prayers. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
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, (Ephesians 3:20) When we pray, God answers our prayer his way and in his time, which is often not our way or in our time. If we could understand God’s thinking and see things from eternity, the answer to our prayers would make perfect sense. But since we cannot know God’s thinking and we cannot see things from eternity, we sometimes don’t understand God’s answer to our prayer. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8)
When we pray, we trust the Lord’s answer to our prayer. We put our faith in God and not in our understanding. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5). This verse is never more applicable than when we pray. We know God answers our prayer when it brings glory to God, and we fully trust God’s answer and his timing.
Our prayers are powerful because they are received by Christ, and when they bring glory to the Father, Christ presents our prayer to the Father. Christ presenting our prayer to the Father makes our prayer powerful. God acts on our prayer when they come from Christ, so be patience and watchful for how God answers your prayer.
Today, fully trust the Lord for every request you make. It could be for healing, or help bring someone to Christ, or it may be asking for the words to encourage someone. I have found that when I ask the Lord for his help in preaching, or teaching a class, or counseling/mentoring someone, he always answers and usually immediately.
Prayer: Lord when I pray today I will accept your perfect answer. Help me to commune with you and seek your help with my words and my decisions, and safety for my family and myself. Let my faith grow as I see you answering my prayers. Lord I will give you the glory for hearing my prayer and for your answer. In Jesus name, Amen