The Power of Prayer

As Christians, we speak of prayer all the time, but I've never heard anyone preach about the armor of God (Ephesians 6) that focused on prayer as a weapon, not a response... “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” This was included in the same section as putting on the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, belt of truth, etc. Immediately following this verse, Paul asks that they pray for him as well. Another passage goes something like this, that the prayer of a righteous man accomplishes a lot. Prayer is mentioned over and over again from Genesis on. It is not, however, to be taken lightly. I have heard some who became aware of a challenge in another’s life say, “I will pray for you”. I know sometimes they are faithful in prayer. I know sometimes they want to be faithful, but get distracted and are silent. I think there are many who say, “I will pray for you” that have no intention of actually doing it. It is a Christian response that is void of true meaning and power. I read a quote recently that said, “Prayer is not the preparation for battle... it is the battle”. I believe we make a mockery of God when we speak of the necessity of prayer, but fail do actually do it. Whether you are on a prayer chain, lifting up prayers of the church, or come privately before God in prayer, pray with a deep understanding of God’s ability and desire to answer it. If we pray for rain, do we bring an umbrella? When we pray for revival, do we then invite others to join us in worship? When we pray for healing, would we be surprised if someone was healed miraculously? I heard of someone recently that was healed of heart and back issues that he had suffered with for many years. Prayer is the communication God has given us to enter into the throne room of God to present our praises and petitions. Prayer is not for show, but to call on Almighty God. The Holy Spirit is able to lead us, even speaking to the Father on our behalf of things we can’t even put into words. Concerning prayer, we need to first lift our voices in praise and worship, without any strings attached. Second is praying for the church to be faithful. Next, I believe we should be calling on God for revival, including our own hearts. O Holy Spirit, stir in our hearts, giving us passion and compassion for the lost souls. Lead us each day into a deeper prayer life. Amen