Sometimes, we doubt the effectiveness of our prayer. We believe we have just talked, and there might not be any effect or answers to them. What is the power of prayer? What do Bible verses and quotes say about the power of prayer?
Firstly, for any prayer to be effective, there is something that must be applied, and that is faith. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” When we pray, we should believe there are answers to them already. To ascertain this, the Bible says in James 5:17, “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” If you read this and are still doubting your prayers, you are making your prayers powerless. God has already promised that he would answer our prayers whenever we pray. Jeremiah 29:12: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
The Mystery and Source of Prayer’s Power
Many of us don’t understand the mystery of prayer; we don’t know the power backing up prayer, and that is why not everyone who prays gets answers, not because they don’t know how to but because they don’t know how to tap into the natural source of the power of prayer which is God (God is the power of prayer).
The Essence of Prayer
That’s not all. If we tap into the source of the power, there is only one way, as stated by the Bible John 14:6: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
We need to pray in Jesus’ name because that’s the only way to get the power of prayer and even from the source (John 14:13). The power of prayer doesn’t come from the things we use to pray; it doesn’t come as a result of how we pray, it doesn’t come because we made some sacrifices, and it doesn’t come because we position our self at a particular place to pray.
Bible Verses and Quotes about the Power of Prayer
For you to be able to tap into the power of prayer, firstly, you should know that praying is just a way of communicating with God, the source of the power of prayer. If we ask him anything according to his will, he will hear us (1 John 5:14). Even though Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, that doesn’t mean we should keep using the same word like a magic spell.
Examples and Outcomes of Powerful Prayer
To tap into the power of prayer, you need to create a strong relationship with the power (God) Psalm 145:18. You need to trust in God only for the power. You can’t get it anywhere, and you can’t get it yourself (Proverbs 3:5).
Also, to tap into this power, you must have faith because the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” You cannot tap into the power of prayer when you don’t have faith in the source of the power, which is God.
Here are a few examples of powerful prayers from the Bible, each demonstrating the profound impact that prayer can have:
- The Prayer of Hannah for a Child (1 Samuel 1:10-20). Hannah was deeply distressed due to her inability to conceive. She prayed earnestly to the Lord, weeping bitterly, and vowed that if the Lord gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God’s service. God answered her prayer, and she gave birth to Samuel, who became one of Israel’s greatest prophets.
- Elijah’s Prayer for Rain (1 Kings 18:41-45). After a long drought in Israel, Elijah prayed for rain. He sent his servant to look toward the sea seven times. On the seventh time, a small cloud appeared, and soon after, a heavy rain started, ending the long drought. This prayer demonstrated Elijah’s faith and persistence in prayer.
- Jesus’ Prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He felt immense sorrow and asked God if it were possible to take away the cup of suffering. Yet, He submitted to God’s will, saying, “not as I will, but as you will.” This prayer is a profound example of surrender and obedience to God’s will.
- The Prayer of King Solomon for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-14). When God offered to grant Solomon anything he asked for, Solomon chose not to ask for long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies. Instead, he asked for wisdom to govern God’s people rightly. Pleased with Solomon’s request, God granted him unparalleled wisdom, which became legendary.
- The Prayer of Hezekiah for Healing (2 Kings 20:1-5). When King Hezekiah was ill and near death, the prophet Isaiah told him he would not recover. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, remembering how he had walked faithfully and with a loyal heart. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, telling him to go back and tell Hezekiah that God had heard his prayer and seen his tears, and He would heal him.
- The Prayer of Jesus on the Cross (Luke 23:34). While Jesus was being crucified, He prayed for those who were crucifying Him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This prayer is a powerful example of forgiveness and love in the face of immense suffering.
Each of these prayers from the Bible highlights the different dimensions of prayer, including faith, persistence, surrender, wisdom, healing, and forgiveness, showcasing prayer’s transformative power in various circumstances.
It is known that the more you pray according to God’s will and His glory, the more powerful your prayer becomes. The Bible attests to this in 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “pray without ceasing.” Spend more time praying, and in your prayer, there is power.
Prayer’s Role in Overcoming Enemies and Protection
Prayer has the power to unlock every good thing. Prayer is a key. God himself has given us a key to unlock whatever door we want. Hannah made use of this key, she prayed with all her heart believing God for a child. 1 Samuel 1:10: “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.” Hannah knew the power of prayer. She knew that prayer was the key and used it, and God answered her.
Transformative Power of Prayer
Prayer has the power to deliver from whatever unpleasant situations you find yourself in. Prayer is a perfect way out if you have financial, health, marital, academic, or spiritual problems. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. Acts 16:25-26 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone bands were loosed”.
Prayer has the power to help you overcome temptation. The temptation is what we face daily as a human being, either a Christian or not, we face temptation. To overcome temptations, we need nothing but prayer. Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. Jesus also, when teaching us to pray, said we should pray against temptation. That’s because he knew that prayer has the power to help us overcome temptation (Matthew 6:13).
Prayer calls the spirit of God to come down and move. God said in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gathers in my name, there am I with them”. When the disciples of Jesus gathered to pray on the day of Pentecost, God moved in their midst (Acts 2:1-4).
The power of prayer can help you overcome your enemies (Psalm 6:10). The Israelites overcame the Philistines with the power of prayer (1 Samuel 7:8-10).
Prayer puts us in the secret place of the highest one. It serves as a shield for us in this challenging time. In Psalm 91, we see that anyone who dwells in the secret place of God will be protected. Prayer is the secret place that God wants us to be for perfect protection.
Also read: SEVEN REASONS TO PRAY DAILY
