The power of prayer. Part 2.
I hadn’t planned to write a second post on prayer, but I stumbled upon a verse that rocked my word.
In fact, I’m still just trying to process it. (If you missed Part 1 of The power of prayer, you can find it here.)
It’s the last part of this verse I’ve highlighted that blew me away. (I’m providing the entirety of it for context.)
Go ahead and read it first, then we’ll discuss. (It’s from the book of Matthew, Chapter 9, NLT.)
That verse is crazy, right? You have Jesus himself — these are His words — saying to His disciples that we should pray for more workers. And it obviously implies that if we did so, then God would answer our prayers.
Similarly, take this verse from Judges 3.
The people of Israel have sinned and created false idols. God punishes them, but once they pray for help, God delivers.
Finally, I wanted to share this passage from Judges 10, which seems even more powerful. The crazy thing about this passage is the Israelites pray for help, and God says “no.” God even tells them that he will NOT rescue them.
But their prayers make Him grieve, and if you read until the end of that story, you will see that God rescues them.
I’m not even sure what to make of all of this. I hope it helps get your mind working, and that it causes you to read and study the Bible more. All of the answers are in there, and it’s the most incredible feeling when God opens your eyes and shows you something you had never “seen” or noticed.
But you have to be hungry for knowledge and wisdom, and you have to put in the work of reading the Bible on your own.
Reading the Bible actually becomes addicting and satisfying. I promise.
Plus, studies have shown that by reading it, there are nine major benefits:
Feeling lonely drops 30%
Anger issues drop 32%
Bitterness in relationships drops 40%
Alcoholism drops 57%
Sex outside of marriage drops 68%
Feeling spiritually stagnant drops 60%
Viewing pornography drops 61%
Sharing your faith jumps 200%
Discipling others jumps 230%
Back to the power of prayer, though. It’s very hard for many of us to pray for things; especially if you’re not even close to God.
But the Bible clearly teaches, “Ask and you shall receive.”
And in Proverbs, Chapter 15, it says:
It all kind of makes you feel stupid that you haven’t been praying more, doesn’t it?
It also has to make you wonder if you shouldn’t be asking for more from God from this day forward. As I wrote in the first part of the Power of Prayer, we don’t have to sit in the upper room with our door shut.
God is merciful and kind.
I believe he will answer your prayers, as stated in the Bible in so many passages — certainly too many to show in a single post.
Love and peace,
Stan R. Mitchell
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