There are times in life when we will question how effective our prayers are. Like my post Does God Even Hear My Prayers says, so many times we question if our prayers go further than the ceiling. The Bible tells us that prayer is our weapon against the troubles we face in life. “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt 10:16). This verse tells us just how effective our prayers are. This does not mean that every prayer is going to be answered the way you expect. God’s plans are bigger and better than ours’. He may do things differently than we would. This also does not mean that God’s answer will always be yes.
In Matthew 29:39, Jesus prays “let this cup pass from me”. He was speaking of the crucifixion. God did not answer that prayer. Not how Jesus would have liked. But one thing Jesus added to that prayer that many of us would not have was “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” This is something that I do my best to add to prayers. God knows better than us. So many times we ask for something that would make us happy at the moment. Not thinking more than 10 minutes ahead. God knows that if we’d let Him work that there are bigger and better things waiting for us.
Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against the devil. Ephesians 6:13-18 talks about the armor of God. These verses tell us all the equipment God has given us to protect ourselves. Then in verse 18, Paul talks about prayer as if it is a battering ram. He says “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit”. Prayer is meant to push us ahead in pursuit of God’s will. Prayer is our strategy needed to propel us on to victory. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16). There you have it. If we are righteous, our fervent prayers can accomplish so much!
Prayer can do anything. Matthew 19:26 tells us “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” When you know that a situation is beyond your control give it to God in prayer. With Him, all things are possible! “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37). There is nothing our God can’t handle. All we have to do is ask Him. Jeremiah 29: 12, “then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you,”.
This is shown to us many times throughout the Bible. James 5:17 reminds us of when Elijah “prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the early by the space of three years and six months.” What a testimony to the power of prayer! Verse 18 goes on to say “And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” How great is the power of prayer!!
Prayer is like having a therapist on-call 24/7. Jesus is described as such in Isaiah 9:6 “and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”. Not only is He there for you 24/7 but we are called to take advantage of that and talk to Him constantly. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “Pray without ceasing.” What a privilege it is to be able to access the God Almighty at any time, about whatever it is that is troubling us and know that He hears you.
When we go to God in prayer and tell him our troubles, there is an exchange of energy that takes place. Philippians 4:6-7 shows us that. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing give by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,”. Prayer allows us to give our troubles and worries over to God and receive His peace. The peace that surpasses all understanding. Ephesians 6:20 shows us the peace that comes from prayer. Paul is writing to Ephesus from prison as an “ambassador in bonds”. How can someone in prison be so calm?
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! If you are interested in the verses used in this post, I have listed them below. I know a lot of times when I read things with verses I want to go back and look up those verses later. It can be hard to find them if you are just reading through the text looking for a particular verse you read. Be sure to share this post if you liked it! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Also, be sure to subscribe so that you stay up to date with our posts. We would love to hear from you, so if you liked this, be sure to leave us a comment! Thank you and God Bless!
Verses used in this post:
Matthew 10:16 – “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 29:39 – “let this cup pass from me”, “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Ephesians 6:13-18 – Talk about the armor of God. Verse 18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit”
James 5:16 – “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Matthew 19:26 – “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Luke 1:37 – “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
James 5:17 – “prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the early by the space of three years and six months.”
James 5:18 – “And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”
Isaiah 9:6 – “and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing give by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,”
Ephesians 6:20 – “ambassador in bonds”
