THE POWER OF PRAYER

Some people think that prayer itself is a source of power. If they pray hard enough, well enough, with the right words and in the right places, then hopefully God will do what they want.

In Mark 11, Jesus explained one of the secrets behind prayer: “Have faith in God” (MARK 11:22). That means the only place we put our trust is in God. We don’t put faith in our prayers (relying on how good they sound or how genuine they are); our trust is in God alone. We have faith in the One we speak to; not in what we’re saying.

Jesus told His disciples they could tell a mountain to be thrown into the sea, and if they believed it would happen, it would. Jesus then explained what that promise meant: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (V.24). Jesus was talking about answered prayer. We can ask and get answers only if our asking is directed to God in faith, trusting Him to act and do things in His own perfect and good way (1 JOHN 5:14). This doesn’t mean God is a genie who will do whatever we ask; it means He will answer—our role is to trust Him, even before we see Him at work.

I’ve often wished that I could move mountains—the things that get in my way each day. But God has done something much more important: He has removed the mountains of worry, fear and regret in my life and thrown them into oblivion because I trust in Jesus. I know my prayers are powerful—not because of me or how well I speak—but because I speak to the One who’s in control of every mountain.

Want more?

Check out What is prayer? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper