Prayer Power
I have seen first hand the Power of God when I pray. I’ve seen people changed. I’ve seen unbelievable things happen. I must confess though that the farther removed I am from amazing answers to prayer the more skeptical I become. I remember a quote I heard when I was young that said: “Prayer changes nothing.” The implication is that God does the work, and my prayer really didn’t do any of the work. I do strongly disagree with this statement because I believe that PRAYER CHANGES ME! It changes my perspective and my attitude because through prayer I’m trusting in the Lord to help and to move in my situation.
Daniel was a prayer warrior. I love his consistency and his confidence in the Lord. Check this out…
1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom – 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
‘Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.
16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, ‘Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. (Daniel 9:1-3;4-5;9-10;16-18;21-23 NIV)
I love the sincerity of Daniels prayer and his deep belief that God hears and responds. I also love that the angel said “as soon as you began to pray, a word went out”. The power of prayer is in the fact that the Lord hears and responds. I don’t always agree with His response, but He ALWAYS responds. Prayer is little me calling on the mighty forces of heaven to move and change things here on earth and inside the hearts of others.
I am constantly calling on the power of the Lord to move and shape my heart. I’m praying for the hearts of my family members. I believe in praying about everything including the somewhat insignificant details.
Pressing On!
Dwayne