It Happened in Prayerናሙና

Prayer is undoubtedly one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines that believers can engage in. It is so powerful that Jesus states that men ought always to pray (Luke 18:1). The Bible also declares that the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous avail much (James 5:16). We also see that prayer is so powerful that Elijah prayed that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t rain for three years. Then he prayed again for it to rain, and it did. Now, that is a powerful prayer! The incredible thing is we can pray the same bold prayers.

In its simplest form, prayer is communication with God. Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines prayer as “converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to Him. While “prayer” is universal across all major religions, the difference with Christian prayer is that we pray to God the Father, in the name of the Son (Jesus), through the power of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:6, we see that Jesus is the only way to God. Isn’t it amazing that by praying in the name of Jesus, we have direct access to communicate with God?

However, for many different reasons, whether it be a tragedy, not receiving the answer we had hoped for after praying, or something else, we often dilute the power of prayer. One key thing to note is that when James 5:16 says, “the prayers of the righteous avail much,” one of the definitions of the Greek word for righteous (dikaios) there is “used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life.” Therefore, we must ensure that in prayer, we wholly conform our heart posture to pray the will of God to have powerful prayers.

This Bible plan aims to reinvigorate your belief in the power of prayer and show you how God answered and is still answering prayers today. As you engage with this Bible plan, I believe you will be reassured that God hears you and that your prayers are not in vain. Let’s embark on this journey to see how it happened in prayer!

Prayer: Lord, as I pray today and throughout this devotional, help restore my faith that you are the God who answers prayers. I pray that I will see you move in my prayer life, and I thank you in advance for how you will show up in my prayers. In Jesus name, amen.