Powerful Pray-er

God has been speaking to me about prayer a lot lately. I know that word gets thrown around pretty loosely among Christians, even among nonbelievers really. “I’ll be praying for you.” “We’ll keep you in our prayers.” Sure, the sentiment is there, but what does it actually mean to pray, especially to pray for others?

So, there’s this kids Bible t.v. show called “Superbook,” and me and Manna watch it all the time! (Side note: I have to say that I watch it with Manna or else people would probably think it’s weird that I watch it.) Anyway, as a family, we love it! Not only is it fun and wholesome, but there are deep spiritual truths hidden there, given that it is scripture-based. It’s so simple that a child could grasp it, yet so complex that an adult could dwell on it for weeks—that’s where I’m at right now.

We watched the episode about Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. It showed Daniel and his friends praying all night long, and though the Bible doesn’t specify that they prayed all night, it does say,

”So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.

Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven;“

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭16-‭19

So, I’d bet that they did pray all night long, with reverence, with fear, with fervency! As I watched that episode, I had the thought, if we would just spend more time in prayer, we would experience God so much more.

That day, a 6-year old boy from our area went missing. I received a message asking for prayers over the situation, and I felt God put it on my heart to spend intentional time in prayer for this particular matter. I can honestly say that it was a less-than-perfect effort. Having an 8-month old requires a lot of attention, and I know that neglecting my baby would not be something God would call me to do. But I just tried to just invite Him into my rhythms. Every time I woke up during those next few nights with Manna, I would pray. During feedings, I prayed. Every time I thought about the boy, I prayed.

That Sunday evening, we got word that the boy had been found, perfectly safe! All he said was that he was hungry. I saw pictures on Facebook of him and his mother, happily reunited, along with a passel of people that were helping in the search. When I got the news, I couldn’t help but rejoice. Like, out loud! My heart was truly overflowing with joy in the Lord, and I couldn’t help but praise Him.

I realized through that small experience how powerful prayer is, and not just for the person being prayed for, but for the pray-er. Yes, it was an answered prayer for many, but I was changed in that situation. God was doing things in my heart and in my life. He was revealing Himself in my situation just as much as He did in the little boy’s situation. And I think that’s the real power in prayer.

It’s not that more time spent in prayer is the answer. I can spend hours in “prayer,” but if my heart isn’t dwelling with God in those moments, if I’m asking for selfish things, or if I’m praying without faith, then what does it affect? Is it really prayer? If I’m praying for someone’s physical healing, but I’m not praying for God to heal their soul, then what does their physical healing benefit them? In our flesh, we always want to pray for physical things, but our prayer should ultimately be for spiritual things because that is what’s eternal. That’s what really matters.

Prayer is not a request form that we submit to God once a day. Prayer is not a routine that we just go through. Prayer is not a weapon that we keep in the safe until there’s an emergency. Prayer is not about us changing God….prayer is about God changing us. It’s more listening than speaking. It’s more about coming boldly before His throne and sitting at His feet. It’s more of God and less of me.

Prayer is about God’s will and not ours.

Prayer is not us communicating with a distant god. Prayer is us inviting Heaven down to Earth by the power of our Father, God. If you’re wondering why you feel distant from God (as I have many times before), my best advice would be to seek God in prayer. If you want to know how to really grow your relationship with Him, again, I’d suggest deepening your prayer life.

I’m no prayer expert. Thankfully, I’m only a student learning from a great Teacher, and I’ll spend a lifetime learning the basics a thousand times over! Sometimes, it scares me to pray for God’s will to be done because I know that my plans and God’s plans are not always the same. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to pray for God to grow my faith because I know that in order for that to happen, I’ll have to experience hard things.

Nevertheless, not my will but His will be done.

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I encourage you to take some time to dwell on these powerful scriptures that reflect God’s heart behind prayer:

”And He [Jesus] went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’

And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.’“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬-‭42‬ ‭

”’But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

‘And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

‘So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

‘Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭13‬ ‭