The Power of Prayer

One of the most inspiring things about Dave and the other Rangers is their constant reliance on God in prayer. They really do “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:16) and “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Eph 6:17–18) From this video clip, we can draw four kinds of insights on how to pray… 

Let’s offer ourselves up in prayer. 

When they hear about the war in Iraq, despite having no experience or contacts in Iraq, they pray, “God do you want us to go to Iraq?” This is called the prayer of availability—it is the equivalent of the prayer Isaiah prays: “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa 6:8) We too can make ourselves available to God, by prayerfully affirming that we do not belong to ourselves and that we are called to extend God’s love to others, and then by offering our availability to God.

Let’s pray for God’s guidance. 

God will show us the way we should go if we remember to ask him to guide us, then wait on him to do so. Sometimes his guidance comes slowly, and sometimes quickly—in the case of the Free Burma Rangers, within an hour of asking for guidance about Iraq, God opens the door via a phone call. A big organization asks its team to deliver relief supplies to the civilian casualties on the frontlines in Iraq. 

Let’s pray for God’s help. 

We watch in amazement as doors open for them to safely drive right through to the frontline, past all kinds of barricades and dangers. Knowing how impossible travel is in that part of Iraq, the Iraqi commander marvels, “Who are you? And how did you get here?” To which Dave confidently answers, “God sent us here… to help you.” Take heart: wherever God guides us, he will strengthen and support us, protect and provide for us. As Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)

Let’s not be ashamed of our reliance on God. 

When Dave is led by the Spirit to fall to his knees in prayer, he finds favour with the commander who remarks, “You know you are not God… You know you need God and you honour him.” Wonderfully, his public show of reliance on God opens yet more doors—and the commander continues, “You can go anywhere you want.” Though our culture may misguidedly exalt the strong, independent person, the truth is that it is far better to get on our knees before God and let him open doors that only he can. 

Instead of reflecting today, let’s pray…  

• Offer your availability to God.  
• Ask for his guidance and help.  
• Repent of any self-reliance.  
• Ask for more boldness to be more open about relying on God.