Why You Need to Pray First

Jesus taught His disciples how to pray and He showed them it is important to pray first to equip them to live with the faith they need to "go and tell." #Faith #BibleStudy #Prayer #ReadtheBible #CountingMyBlessings #BlessingBloggers #WWGGG

Mark was probably the first Gospel written. It was penned by John Mark, who was not one of the 12 Disciples but was a follower of Jesus and a companion of Paul and Barnabas on their mission journeys to “go and make disciples.”

The 1st Chapter skips over everything prior to the start of Jesus’ public ministry only lightly touching on John the Baptist, Jesus’ Baptism, and His Temptation by Satan. Then quickly taking the reader through an intimate look at the person, work, and teachings of “Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1)

As I read today’s verses, two stood out to me . . . one prompted a question and the other provided an answer.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Mark 1:35

The question – Why did Jesus pray?

“We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.”
Mark 1:38

The answer – Jesus came to preach and testify to the truth about the Kingdom of God. (John 18:37)

Jesus who was and is fully God and fully man prayed…

Because He wanted to spend time talking with His Father.
To show His followers the importance and blessing of prayer.

And then He preached. It’s why He came . . . to “go and tell.”

If you and I are to “go and tell” the Good News, like Jesus, we need to pray first!

Thankfully, we have some clear examples of many of the things Jesus prayed for Himself…

That the Father would be glorified. (Matthew 5:16)
That His followers would be united. (John 17:23)
That God’s will would be done. (Matthew 6:10)
In times of anguish and suffering. (Luke 22:44)
With thanks for His blessings. (John 6:11)
And praise. (Luke 10:21)

We are also to pray for forgiveness. (Matthew 6:12)
For strength in times of temptation. (Matthew 6:13)

These are prayers God wants to answer with a huge “YES” because He knows that they are things we need to “go and tell” the Good News with TRUTH and LOVE.

You Need to Pray First

Will you pray with me.

Father, Your Word says “never stop praying.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) I want that! I want my heart and mind in constant communication with You. I want to know and do Your will so that I might glorify with my life.

I want to share Your love and tell everyone I meet about Your goodness and grace. I want to publicly thank and praise You for Your countless blessings.

Father, please forgive me for falling short of Your plans and purposes and help me forgive those who fall short in ways that have hurt me. Please deliver me from evil and give me everything I need to endure when I am tempted.

I give myself to You. Please use me today for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Friend, whatever you are facing today . . . PRAY FIRST! The Father is waiting for you and you don’t have to have the perfect words, you don’t have to have any words—just go to Him with a surrendered heart and trust His love.

He [Jesus] is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Romans 8:34

And if He thought it was important to pray first should we do any less!

So, on today’s note, simply write…

PRAY FIRST!

God bless you today as you give yourself in faith and prayer to the One who loves you more than you can even imagine!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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Pray When You are Confused and Nothing Makes Sense

4 / 24 / 204 / 24 / 20

When life is confusing and nothing makes sense, it's a blessing to take every care and concern to God in prayer trusting Him to give us whatever we need. #Prayer #Faith #Hope #MentalHealth #NothingMakesSense #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

I have to admit, I’m confused and nothing makes sense!

Almost every news report, ad, tweet, and post seems to have an agenda. It’s hard to know what to believe when contradicting points of view all claim to be “fact-based” truth.

One thing I know for sure is that nothing feels normal and no one can tell us how our future “normal” is going to look or feel.

It’s unsettling isn’t it?

And we don’t like it!

We want to be in control!

We shouldn’t be surprised. It was the enemy’s first temptation…

“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
Genesis 3:5

Eat the apple and you’ll be in control … you won’t have to live under God’s control. “You’ll be like God.”

And as tempting as it was then, it’s still tempting today.

It takes faith and dependence to be okay with surrendering our control to someone or something else. And that is the million-dollar question…

Who or what will you and I place our trust enough to surrender our control?

Will we put our trust in…

careers
people
wealth
power
position
government
education

The truth is … those things have let us down lately, haven’t they? But maybe they’re supposed to! Maybe God allows us to lose our control so we will consider trusting Him enough to give Him control.

God started The Commandments with…

“You must not have any other god but me.”
Exodus 20:3

Why? Because He knows we need Him!

When we place our surrendered faith in anything or anyone other than God Himself, we set ourselves up to live a life of confusion where nothing makes sense.

So today, I’m going to the Lord and asking Him to help me understand. I’m asking Him to take my unsettled feelings and fill me with the assurance of His love. And I’m asking Him to give me the wisdom to surrender myself to Him in faith … knowing I can trust Him completely even when I’m confused and nothing makes sense.

Pray When You are Confused and Nothing Makes Sense

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8–9

Father, forgive me. I can be so foolish. I can so easily focus on the rantings and ravings of “world authorities.” I can listen to those who claim to have “wisdom” rather than fully turning to the solid foundation of faith and truth You have given me in Your Word.

Forgive us, Lord! Forgive me! We can foolishly try to make You fit into a mold of our own creation rather than fully trusting that You are who You say You are and that You will always do what You say You will do.

By Your grace, turn us (turn me) from foolishness. Turn us (turn me) to Your Word. Please help us (help me) trust You and look to You for understanding and wisdom.

And help me cling to You in faith … for You alone are the One who can and will give me what I need today and always.

I cried out, “I am slipping!” but Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalm 94:18–19

Father, I’m feeling restless and uncertain. I don’t understand. I sometimes feel like I’m drowning in contradictory information. I’ll admit, doubts fill my mind because I don’t know who or what to believe anymore.

So, I’m coming to You! I’m crying out for You to give me wisdom and peace. I’m asking for renewed hope and joy! I trust Your unfailing love. You hear my prayers. You are righteous and faithful in everything You do. (Psalm 33:4) You encourage me through Your Word.

I believe nothing can separate me from Your love, (Romans 8:38) and I trust that You defend and protect me by Your grace. (Psalm 94:22)

Thank you, Lord! You are my hope … even when nothing makes sense and I don’t understand.

As for God, His way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    He shields all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with
strength and keeps my way secure.
Psalm 18:30–32 (NIV)

Lord, thank you for allowing me to come to You when I am weak and upset. I trust Your promises. I believe You have a plan for me. (Jeremiah 29:11) I believe You want me to have hope. (Psalm 25:5) So, I come to You asking for strength and direction.

You do not promise to remove all my challenges but even when I don’t understand the what or the why … I rely on You to give me all I need to live with hope and courage each day. And I need that today, Lord. I need faith-filled hope to KNOW that You are greater than my circumstances and I need the courage to LIVE boldly because You are right beside me.

For the Lord is God, and He created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the Lord,” He says, “and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:18

Father, I love Your Word. Even when nothing makes sense – Your Word reminds me that all creation is Yours. If You can hold every planet in place and cause the sun to shine and moon to glow, You can certainly take care of my needs.

I ask You to help me focus on Your promises. Help me examine every one of the enemy’s lies against the truth of Your Word. When he tempts me with words of doubt that say the chaos and confusion are too great this time, help me remember that there has always been chaos and confusion. Your Word says, “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

But I will trust in You! The One who sees the end from the beginning. Nothing is new or unexpected to You. When I’m confused … You’re not! You are forever unfailing love, truth, and righteousness. There is none like You. By Your grace and with Your help, I will “be still” and rest in You.

Since all His “children” have flesh and blood, so Jesus became human to fully identify with us. He did this so that He could experience death and annihilate the effects of the intimidating accuser who holds against us the power of death.

He suffered and endured every test and temptation so that He can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life.
Hebrews 2:14, 18 (TPT)

Lord Jesus, words are not enough to thank you for all You have done for us. You experienced life’s emotions, temptations, and pain. You suffered my punishment and defeated the power of sin and death in the world.

You became fully human that I might know You identify with my troubles.

So, I will come to You with simple words of thanks…

Thank you for understanding. Psalm 147:5) Thank you for walking with me. (Psalm 23:4)Thank you for helping me carry my burdens. (Matthew 11:28) Thank you for giving me life (Psalm 139:13). For giving me hope and strength (Isaiah 40:31), and everything else I need each day.

I praise You. I worship You. I love You and give myself to You. By Your grace, help me live for Your glory now and forever. Amen.

The truth is…

You and I are going to have seasons when we’re confused and nothing makes sense.

But the wonderful thing I’ve learned is that when I honestly take my confusion to God in prayer and trust Him to make sense out of the nonsense … I have what I need. I have peace and strength and hope.

I’ve been reading in Jeremiah lately and most days my heart is moved when I realize how many of the prophecies God was speaking to the nations through Jeremiah … could also be said today.

But in the midst of God calling out all the ways the people had turned away from Him and warning them of the coming chaos and confusion … He gave them the following words of hope and truth:

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7–8

My prayer today is that you and I will have deeply rooted faith in Christ Jesus. Faith that will give us hope when we’re confused and worried, peace when nothing makes sense, and strength to never stop producing fruit for the Lord in ways that will forever give Him glory.

May you be beautifully blessed today and every day by His unfailing love!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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5 Prayers that will Increase Your Faith When You are Worried

3 / 14 / 193 / 15 / 19

Praying God's promises and asking Him to help us seek Him first, increase our faith, and trust His promises ... things we need to have courage and strength when we're worried. #TrustGod'sPromises #Faith #BibleStudy #Hope #CountingMyBlessings

Why do I put myself out there week after week telling you about my struggle with worry and anxiety?

Because I hated it! And if, by God’s grace, one or two of you might be spared the emotional, mental, and physical suffering that accompanies perpetual worry … I will shout my story from the rooftops.

In all honesty, the problem for me was … weak faith.

I had a list of things that terrified me. Things I believed I couldn’t survive even with all of God’s promises to the contrary.

Luke chapter 12 begins with these words spoken by Jesus…

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life.”

And then the promise…

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.”
Luke 12:31

Everything! No qualifiers. No exceptions.

Look at what follows…

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
Luke 12:32

“Great happiness” … your Father will not withhold a thing from those who seek Him.

The Life Application Notes say…

To “seek the Kingdom of God above all else” means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything.

Oh, how I wish I could consistently do that!

I know, when I put God first, when I fill my thoughts with His truth and promises, when I prayerfully want what He wants for me, and when I spend my time living for Him – I’m not worried!

So, today I’m praying God’s promises and asking Him to help me seek Him first, to increase my faith, and trust His promises to give me everything I need when I’m worried. I’d love for you to join me…

5 Prayers that will Increase Your Faith When You are Worried

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Father, I need You to hold me up. I need You to strengthen me and help me.

I don’t want to worry. I don’t want to be afraid or discouraged. My heart wants to seek You first and trust You completely.

Please help me. By the power of Your Spirit, fill my thoughts with Your truth, Your promises. Help me want what You want for me. Help me know that if You have not allowed something … if it’s not in Your will then it’s not for my good. Even when I don’t understand.

With Your Spirit’s help, I will surrender this day to You trusting that You will give me everything I need. Amen.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”
¹The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress.
Psalm 46:10–11

Father, for this moment … quiet my mind and my spirit as I sit here with You. I know You are sovereign, Lord of lords and King of kings. Whether people realize it today or not, at some point every knee will bow before You. You will be honored everywhere by everyone.

And the overwhelming miracle … You love me. You are with me. You care for me. You call me Your child.

So, like a little child is unafraid curled up in her daddy’s lap … I will rest in You! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is with me protecting me. I have nothing to worry about! Amen.

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you.
1 Peter 4:19

Father, suffering is never pleasant and honestly, it’s hard to imagine that any suffering “pleases” You. Yet, Your Word tells us there is evil in this world and You sometimes allow it to touch Your children that they might show others Your ability to give them everything they need as they suffer.

You never fail Your children. I believe that! You have proven it time after time. Thank you! I will trust You! I will stand secure on the promise that Your grace is sufficient to meet every need every day. Amen.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:33–34

Father, Help me want You more than anything.

Jesus said that Your Kingdom is a priceless treasure, (Matthew 13:44) worth more than anything this world can offer; yet, You give it as a gift. By Your grace, You give Your children … peace, joy, patience, hope, love, and so much more. I have no reason to worry when I know You will give me what I need.

Please help me keep my heart and mind focused on You today, trusting that whatever this day offers You are with me and You are all I need. Amen.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26

Father, thank you for giving me this promise to hold in my heart as I lived through that painful and difficult time. You proved to me that You are able to give me the strength I need each moment. Day after day, You showed me that You will never leave or forsake me. You are mine forever. Whatever happens I can trust in You and that is a truth I can hold close any time I am tempted to worry. Amen.

I’d love to be able to tell you that I’m worry-free but you probably wouldn’t believe me anyway. Understandably!

Although, I’ll admit I still have “what-if” thoughts … I no longer live consumed by those thoughts. With God’s help, I’m able to prayerfully give my worries to God as I ask Him to replace them with “everything I need.”

And He is faithful, which is why…

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.
Psalm 73:28

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

When Jesus Didn’t Show Up:
Four Vital Truths About Prayer

by Julia Kyte
@ Committing My Way

How to Slow Down When Life is Too Fast

by Christine Wood
@ Living With Margins

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Day 30 – God, Help My Loved Ones to Love and Trust Jesus

12 / 21 / 18

The first Bible verse most of us learn is…

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

God’s only Son, Jesus … His amazing and gracious gift of love.

The Bible also says about Jesus:

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

I believe we all know people who do not love and trust, Jesus, God’s precious gift. So today, I’m praying…

God, Help My Loved Ones to Love and Trust Jesus

Father, Your amazing love overwhelms me. Knowing and loving Jesus as my Lord and Savior has changed and blessed every part of my life. On top of the blessings I enjoy today, You promise me eternal life with You and Your Son.

How my heart aches for my loved ones who are not experiencing the peace, hope, joy, love, and more that You are offering them.

Please Father, help my loved one love and trust Jesus.

Jesus … “the way, the truth, and the life.” The only One through whom sinners can have a restored relationship with You. (based on John 14:6)

Jesus … the One who gives victory over sin and death. (based on 1 Corinthians 15:57)

Jesus … the One who gives freedom. (based on John 8:36)

Jesus … the One who makes us holy and blameless. (based on Ephesians 1:4)

Jesus … the One who is perfect peace. (based on John 14:27)

Jesus … the One who helps us. (based on Hebrews 13:6)

Jesus … the One through whom we have eternal life. (based on John 17:3)

Father, I want these awesome blessings for my loved ones.

So, I ask that You will help them love and trust Jesus.

May ________________ openly declare that Jesus in Lord and believe in his/her heart that You raised Him from the dead. May they know the blessing of Your salvation. For Your Word says that it is by believing in our hearts that we are made right with You and by openly declaring our faith we are saved. (based on Romans 10:9–10)

Father, before His suffering and death, Jesus prayed…

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:20–21

By Your grace and through the power of Your Holy Spirit, please help my love ones to love and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is in His name I pray. Amen.

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One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

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This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

Bright Shiny Objects

by Diane Ferreira
@ Worth Beyond Rubies

How Do We Experience a Special Kind
of Joy at Christmas

by and @ Lori Schumaker

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

[Tweet “I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun! “]

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

[inlinkz_linkup id=810468 mode=1]

Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Thank you and God bless!

Mountain Moving Prayers that will Empower Your Faith

11 / 19 / 1811 / 19 / 18

What’s your one thing?

Well, let me back up for a minute.

The other morning I woke up with this thought on my heart and mind…

End the Year with 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers

I’ve finally realized that the Lord often wakes me with a prompting because it’s one of the few times during the day that my head isn’t full of thoughts racing around like a toddler on a sugar high.

That morning’s prompt challenged me to pray bold prayers every day for the last 40 days of the year.

Which is why I began with the question … what’s your one thing?

What’s that thing you’ve been praying for as long as you can remember. And if you’re honest, it’s that thing you’ve prayed for so long you’ve started to lose hope.

I have one! Really, I have more than one. And I’ll bet you do too.

Maybe you’ve prayed for…

A loved one to know and love Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The chronic pain that is limiting you to end.
The broken relationship with a parent, child, sibling, or friend to be healed.
The job opportunity that you long for to finally come along.
A church family where you can feel like you finally belong.
The healing of a loved one who needs a miracle.

Or maybe your prayer is for…

A stronger faith.
More hope.
Increased wisdom.
Or courage and strength.

Maybe your one thing is something else, some burden that’s always with you … just below the surface.

You need a mountain to be moved!

There is an account in the Gospels where Jesus had revealed His divinity to Peter, James, and John through a literal “mountaintop” experience. And as they stepped back into ministry, they were encountered by a father pleading for his son. Jesus challenge to them all was…

“You don’t have enough faith, I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20

I’ve always felt convicted by those words as I’m well aware that I fall short of having “enough” faith for the impossible.

Mark fleshed it out with a few more details…

“One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so You could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it … Have mercy on us and help us, if You can. v. 17–18, 22

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve entered the heavenly throne room feeling helpless and hopeless praying, “Have mercy on me and help me, if You can.”

And every time, Jesus reply is the same…

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” v. 23

Anything is possible! Even mountain moving.

Yet, like the father pleading for his son, my cry is …

“Lord, I believe. Please help me overcome my unbelief.” v. 24

Oh, how I want anything is possible mountain moving faith. I want to go into 2019 completely surrendered, watching for miracles. I want to fully trust that when mountains move in my life, it’s not the size of my faith but the greatness of God that made it happen.

You see, anything is possible!

But mountain moving faith isn’t about you or me…

Mountain moving faith is about trusting that God is sovereign and completely in control. Mountain moving faith is keeping our focus on Jesus, “Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect.” (Hebrews 12:2 NLV)

Too often I feel like there’s something I need to do to have mountain moving faith. I need to spend more time studying the Bible or praying without ceasing. I need to be more obedient or do more ministry.

And although those things are all great and certainly bless my relationship with the Lord and His people, I wonder if maybe anything is possible mountain moving faith is as simple as asking, seeking, and knocking…

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

And that’s why I’m inviting you to join me for 40 days beginning this Thursday…

I want to ask, seek, and knock.

I want to Pray 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers.

So…

Every day from November 22nd through December 31st, I’m going to share a 2-minute post that will inspire you to keep praying bold prayers for your one thing.

♥ We will ask God for mountain moving faith.

♥ We will seek Him through the verses of Scripture.

♥ We will knock on the door of the heavenly throne room in prayer.

I would love for you to subscribe to Counting My Blessings, if you haven’t already, so you can receive the link each morning in your inbox.

I know! This is the busiest time of the year and I’m asking you to sign up for one more thing but I promise this will only be a 2- minute a day commitment…

Honestly, I think I’m a little crazy to be committing to writing every day right now. But God is inviting us into something I believe will be life-changing.

I believe we are going to see mountains move.

Because I believe … with God everything and anything is possible.

So, let’s ask and seek and knock … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

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Imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

You Need to Know the Problem with Saying -“Power of Prayer”

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I don’t believe there is any power in my prayers. I don’t believe in the power of prayer.

Please don’t worry about my faith or my prayer-life. I just don’t believe the power is in my prayers.

I believe the power is in the One to whom I pray.

Let’s take a look at two Bible references – one Old Testament and one New.

Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:16–39; where Elijah challenged the prophets to a pray-off.

Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed. v. 22–24

You know the rest. The prophets of Baal shouted, cried, and cut themselves all day and nothing happened. Finally, it was Elijah’s turn:

At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel . . . Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. v. 36, 38

And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—He is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” v. 39

James said:

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results James 5:16 (NLT)

Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective. (GW)

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (NASB)

You and I are righteous by God’s grace . . . not because of anything we do or say but because He is loving and forgiving. Because of Jesus.

Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. Ephesians 3:12

[Tweet “Any power given to prayer is a gift from God.”]

The Problems with Saying the “Power of Prayer”

The problem is in the communicating—in the danger of misinterpretation. Because:

1. If the power is in the prayer, it doesn’t matter who we pray to . . . God, Allah, Buddha, Ancestors, Saints, the sun, or other idols.

As a follower of Jesus, I want people to know I pray to the Father who hears my prayers because I come to Him in the name of His Son and my Savior, Jesus.

2. If the power is in the prayer, there is a danger of thinking that better prayers give better results.

As a follower of Jesus, I want the Lord to receive all the glory. I don’t want to elevate those who look better, speak eloquently, or are more charismatic.

3. If the power is in the prayer, there is a temptation to fear that an unanswered prayer is the result of weak faith.

As a follower of Jesus, I want to daily trust and grow in faith trusting God’s goodness and love to always answer my prayers with His best.

4. If the power is in the prayer, there is a danger we will take pride in answered prayers.

As a follower of Jesus, I want my daily prayer to be . . . less of me and more of Him. I want to be able to say with humble trust, “Your will be done.”

I know what you mean when we’ve talked about the power of prayer. As followers of Jesus, you want all the same things I want. I just wonder if people who aren’t Jesus followers understand.

My heart’s desire is to proclaim Him. To pray without ceasing to the Father in the name of the Son through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Please come back tomorrow for more on the Holy Spirit and prayer.