The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16b
The Bible says prayer is a powerful thing. I have seen God orchestrate amazing outcomes through prayer in my own life, and in the lives of others. The Bible illustrates this in 2nd Kings 20 when King Hezekiah prayed to God and God added 15 years to his life.
Another example is in Exodus 32:14, when Moses pleaded with God to turn away from his intention of judgment. The Bible tells us “ The Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people”.
Some don’t believe prayer changes circumstances, believing that in God’s sovereignty there is a plan, and we aren’t going to change it. When we pray and the outcome isn’t as we wished we can feel unheard or that our prayers didn’t matter.
I can be guilty of praying simple prayer, such as “ Lord whatever your will”. I pray these, because I don’t know what should happen, and including God is the only way I see to fix the situation. However; there are times when we need to pray bigger prayers.
We need to come with expectation that God can answer our prayers. He knows our hearts desire, even before we voice it. He longs for us to bring our needs before him anyway. When we do this, our faith can grow as we see God move and answer in mighty ways.
I was beginning a fundraiser for a service dog for a dear friend of mine. We needed $9,000, and it seemed overwhelming. I sat in the church parking lot and prayed. “Dear Lord, this year could you knock our socks off? Amaze us as you make a way for this service dog to be a reality. Please help us get the $900 deposit we need to begin. Help us see your hand move.”
I am not often speechless, but when a woman wrote me a $900 check less than an hour later, I almost couldn’t believe it.
God doesn’t always grant requests this quickly, but He desires to make himself known. He is in the business of amazing us with His power and grace.
May I encourage you today to bring your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
Bring your expectations, share with him your hurt, fear, and your heavy heart for a situation. Be specific, and watch him make himself known.