In the next article, we will reflect on the power in prayer, and how this is the strongest weapon that Christians have to change the course of our lives, families, nation and even history.
Discover the power in a Christian with faith, who prays.
Is there power in prayer?
The Bible tells us on different occasions about the enormous power that Christians who pray have, first of all, we could mention what James 5:16-18 says:
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective prayer of the righteous can do much.
17 Elijah was a man subject to passions similar to ours, and he prayed fervently that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
18 And again he prayed, and the sky gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
In this story, the Apostle Santiago tells us how practicing prayer for one another can make us healed, giving us a sample of his power.
On the other hand, he gives the example of Elijah, who, being a person who made many mistakes (like each one of us), when he prayed with faith believing in the power that comes from Jesus Christ, his request was heard.
So, at what point as Christians do we begin to make prayer a habit or a routine? Rather than understanding that through it miracles can occur and that God can transform lives, even nations.
We also make the big mistake of praying alone in the midst of problems or needs, this year was proof of this. A deadly virus locked us in our homes, resulting in many losing their jobs, others delaying their plans, and many others being knocked on the door by the disease.
And in those moments the prayers became stronger and more fervent. However, in Luke 11:1, Jesus teaches that we should always pray:
1 It happened that Jesus was praying in a place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Sometimes many Christians get tired of praying because they feel that their requests do not reach the Father or that they are not being answered, many others have said that it is difficult to interpret the voice of God and that generates frustration.
But, in the Bible we can see on multiple occasions how great servants of God prayed and their requests were answered.
One case was that of the Jewish patriarch Abraham, who prayed with all his heart so that the city of Sodom would not be destroyed, the reason for this is that his nephew Lot, son of his brother Haran, was there, and God did not destroy it .
Another example was Elijah, who prayed and God made fire come down from heaven; Elisha prayed and raised the Shunammite woman's son from the dead; Jesus prayed and raised his friend Lazarus, after four days of death.
The thief who was crucified next to Jesus prayed and he assured him that that night they would be together in paradise; the apostle Peter prayed and raised Dorcas, who was able to serve in the ministry of Jesus for several more years.
In recent history there are thousands of stories of people and nations that stood up in prayer and managed to make great changes, even us at some point in our Christian walk have been able to experience the power of prayer.
A well-known Scottish preacher named John Welch once said, "I don't see how a believer can spend the whole night in bed without praying." We must meditate on this and not allow our faith to grow cold, failing to see the importance of prayer in our lives.
Jesus himself in Matthew 17:20 demands that we keep the faith and not give up, because in his name nothing is impossible:
20 Jesus said to them: Because of your little faith; For truly I tell you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
In the same way, the Bible teaches us that in this walk, our weapons are only spiritual and we must use them, as expressed in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for the destruction of strongholds,
5 Casting down arguments and every lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Later, in the letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul ratifies what Jesus had previously taught, where he encourages us to pray at every opportunity. We find this biblical passage in Ephesians 6:18, which says:
18 praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and being vigilant to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
If you want to continue reading some short christian reflections to share with your family, enter this link and discover everything that God has prepared for you.
Pray without ceasing, as the Scriptures say.
Harnessing the power in prayer
Without a doubt, there is an incredible power in prayer, imagine if all the Christians around the world understood it and made use of it, understood the sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us, so that we could be saved, to achieve that communion and direct communication with the Father was possible.
The same disciples felt the need to learn to pray in order to take advantage of that power, when they approached Jesus to teach them, he gives them what is known even today as the Our Father.
This represented a guide on how to pray, what to ask for and how to address the Father, however, this was not the only lesson on how to pray. His very life was a constant guide to direct communion with God, regardless of the moment, circumstance or time it was going to take, his priority was this.
We must take the life of Jesus as an example, in how many opportunities motivated by fatigue or the different occupations that we have, we do not dedicate enough time to it.
Sometimes they become simple repetitive phrases that we say to feel that we fulfill the mandate to pray, and we do not open our hearts, nor do we allow God to work in a wonderful way in us.
Let us learn to pour out our hearts before the Father, let us be sincere, let us say everything that afflicts us, overwhelms us and does not let us move forward, let us deliver all those areas that are not in order and let him order them.
Let us allow God to work, at that moment, without rush, or day-to-day stress, that way we can understand the voice of God and we will see the answer in our lives.
We must know that the power of prayer does not come from the simple fact of practicing it, its power comes from who we talk to and this is God, the true power comes from him, as John 5:14-15 says:
14 Later Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, Look, you have been healed; sin no more, so that something worse does not happen to you.
15 The man went away and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had healed him.
This is the confidence with which we must pray, have the conviction that he hears us, and know that the answers to our requests are according to God's will in our lives.
That is why when the perfect formula of praying with passion and faith, having a clear purpose and being guided by the will of God, is fulfilled, the powerful response can surprise us.
Let us remember that to receive an answer to a prayer, the words we can use or how fluid the sentences are do not influence, in fact, Jesus rejects the fact of making repetitions, he expresses it in Matthew 6: 7-8:
7 And praying, do not use vain repetitions, like the Gentiles, who think that for their talk they will be heard.
8 Do not therefore be like them; because your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
Let's be honest with God, many of the requests or desires of our hearts, he already knows them before we tell him, but God wants to hear it from our own mouths, that we reach his feet with our burdens and desires, that way he will intervene in a powerful way.
Because in the end, the act of praying is a conversation with our Father, who is not just any person, we are talking about having a direct conversation with the King of Kings. Who else to ask for help and help when we are in trouble or when we can't take it anymore, as Psalm 107:28-30 says:
28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their distress,
And delivers them from their afflictions.
29 Change the storm into calm,
And its waves subside.
30 Then they rejoice, because they have calmed down;
And so he guides them to the port they desired.
Things I should pray for
God is available to listen to all kinds of requests, whatever our need or request for help, as described in Philippians 4:6-7:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but let your requests be made known to God in all prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In the same way, Jesus teaches us that we must also include in our prayers the intercession of one for the other, even for those who consider themselves our enemies, so that God can touch their hearts and make them surrender at his feet, thus being able to way to be forgiven, as Matthew 5:44 says:
44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you;
We must not forget about thanksgiving, sometimes it is very easy to ask, but the moment we receive answers to some prayers we forget to give thanks, so let us include adoration, petitions and gratitude among our prayers.
And let it be a direct conversation with the Father using your own words and expressing yourself as you see fit, since that is a moment of great intimacy.
Let's not believe that there are very crazy requests or that prayer does not bear fruit, because even if weeks, months or years go by, God will do his will in your life.
Do not be discouraged, there have been women who have prayed for the conversion of their husbands for years and have seen the support of Jehovah, as well as parents for their children and God has rescued them from vices, problems, calling them to the truth, let us not decay.
Let us remain firm trusting in the Lord because there is an indisputable and supernatural power in prayer. Jesus does not remember them in the scriptures, there is an answer in those requests that are made from the heart and sincerity, we see it reflected in Matthew 21:22:
22 And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Let us make God our greatest protector, let us believe that there is nothing impossible for him, there is no problem big enough, nor is there a burden heavy enough that he cannot help us carry. Let's leave our path, our future and our lives in his hands.
Accepting God's will for many Christians is complicated, because they want God's answer to always be a "Yes", when on several occasions the answer is "No", because he has prepared something different for you or because it is simply not right now. the moment.
Let's learn to be sensitive to the voice of God so that we can let him fulfill his purpose in each one of us, and if you don't know how to pray, don't worry, start right now, go to a secluded place, close your eyes and talk to him. Tell God everything you have stored in your heart.
If you want to continue reading some Christian reflections for women with purpose, click, so that you continue to have a life trusting in the Lord.