Devotional Life · Exhortation and Repentance · Trust and Faith

What do we accomplish through prayer?

5 min read, approximately

“The effective prayer of the righteous can accomplish much” (James 5:16b)

Before going into detail… do we know what prayer is? A dictionary tells us that it is the supplication and help we ask of a deity. Yet when we read God’s Word, we find that prayer is not only about asking but about establishing communication with God… It goes much further: it is an intimate dialogue. So let us look through God’s Word at what we accomplish through prayer: \1. We give thanks to God:

“Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

\2. We receive divine intervention:

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but the church prayed to God for him without ceasing. Peter is freed from prison. The very night before Herod was to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards at the door kept watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison. He touched Peter’s side, woke him, and said: Get up quickly. The chains fell from his hands.” (Acts 12:5-7)

\3. We receive clear and concise guidance from God:

“While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me for the work to which I have called them. Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3)

\4. We receive God’s comfort:

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let them pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let them sing praises.” (James 5:13)

Want to know what the next 4 points say? Do not miss them tomorrow!

Continuing the list: \5. We receive healing and forgiveness of sins:

“Is anyone among you ill? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise them up; if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15)

\6. We receive provision:

“There were about five thousand men. Then he said to his disciples: Have them sit down in groups of fifty. They did so and had everyone sit down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they gathered twelve baskets of leftover pieces.” (Luke 9:14-17)

\7. We learn to love our fellow human beings:

“You heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat and persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, who makes his sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing? Do not the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

\8. We learn to speak as God speaks:

“Beloved, I desire that you prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)

By now we will have realized that through prayer we can obtain everything we long for, provided it agrees with God’s will:

“Which father among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:11-13)

Therefore, all of the above and much more are possible as long as we have faith! “Jesus answered them: Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain: Be removed and thrown into the sea, it will happen. Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:21-22) And the best part is that we can pray at any time, in any place, in whatever circumstances we face, good or bad, and for others! I cannot wait any longer! Do you know anything else we can accomplish? If so, what are you waiting for before hurrying to pray? Come on, do not delay!

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
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