Thousands of books have been written about it. Talk-show hosts and guests talk about prayer quite often. Small children know the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer – but that may be the only prayer they know! Seasoned church leaders may simply repeat a well seasoned prayer they learned years ago. Others seem to be trying to impress the Heavenly English Teacher by using supercilious adjectives and adverbs when praying. And then there are those historians who pray through the Bible, recount a list of facts (that the Lord is already aware of), or men who have long lists of names and events to mention while “he has the attention of God”. And some can stand and share stirring testimonies of “mountains that were moved” as a result of a simple prayer.
There are many references to prayer in the Bible. Some of the great prayers of the Old Testament inspire us to the heavens still today. Prayers of the Apostles and disciples also stir our soul’s spirit. Jesus’ prayers were simple, yet so powerful. In fact, His disciples were so impressed with his prayers and his teachings about it, they begged him to teach them to pray, thus, we have “The Model Prayer” (Matt.6:9-15)! Yes, believers know the power of prayer. We know the power of electricity as well, but sometimes fail to ‘turn on the switch’.
We know the Model Prayer and most of us can recite it “with our eyes closed”. I mean, we quickly skim over it, and seldom take time to concentrate on the powerful implications of Jesus’ teaching. (Matt 6:9-15; Luke 11:2-4). Consider reading the remarks about this prayer in a couple different commentaries to see what some theologians have to say concerning the depth and penetrating teachings of the prayer..
Talk to men and women of faith (that you know) and listen to the miracles they have experienced that came about “because of prayer”. The young couple who miraculously was spared in an accident or whose child was healed from a dreaded disease – the elderly widow that has lived by faith all these years following her husband’s death, etc: they all can testify it was only “because of prayer” they have survived. Yes, there are great dividends attached to sincere and heartfelt prayers.
Jesus said, “If you have a tiny measure of faith (as a small mustard seed), you can speak to mountains (impossible challenges, unsolvable problems, or broken relationships, etc) and God can use your faith to move these ‘blockers’ out of your way.” (Luke 17:6). Yes, all because of prayer, God can perform these miracles. The man that lives by faith will see the Hand of God moving in many ways in many directions. And it’s all because of his prayers of faith.
Matt.7:7-8 is a familiar teaching: “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be open to him; for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” And the doors of Heaven will be opened and all sorts of blessings will come pouring down upon us. And it’s all “because of prayer”.
Bill Crider, Chaplain
Minden Medical Center