I am the least qualified person to critique anybody’s prayers or prayer life. Over the last few months, I have read several articles and devotionals that have challenged my own prayer life. We often hear the term “prayer warriors” in the church referring to certain people we perceive as being mighty in in their prayers. This begs the question, why aren’t all Christians prayer warriors?
The Bible records many prayers from many different people for many different reasons. The Bible also shows us that God answers those prayers. What prayer warriors recognize is that God answers prayers in His time and His way. In reality, that is what it means to pray in Jesus’ name. It means we have the will of God at the forefront of our life and are ready to accept the answer God gives, no matter what. Think about the prayer of Jesus in the garden the night of His arrest, He prayed that what He was about to face be taken away, however, He concludes the prayer with, “Not my will but your will be done.”
When I read this prayer and so many others in the Bible, it makes me realize that we Christians often offer timid prayers to an all-powerful God who can do absolutely anything! Paul describes God in Ephesians 3:20–20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Two things are obvious from this passage to me. The first is that there is nothing we can ask or even think of that God cannot accomplish or even go far beyond what we can imagine. The second is that God’s power is at work in us. We are not alone and do not rely on our own power or strength.
Another lesson I see while reading many prayers in the Bible is that God uses us in His answers. Yes, we are often the answer to our own prayers. I know this can be frightening because we focus on our weaknesses and inabilities. Remember, it is God’s power at work in us. Nehemiah gives us a great example of relying on the power of God. He is concerned about the remnant of Jews who survived the exile and were once again living in Jerusalem, which was in shambles. He prays to God and reminds Him that that these are God’s servants, and they need His care and protection. So, God answers the prayer of Nehemiah, not with skilled craftsmen or mighty warriors, but by sending Nehemiah himself to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was a cupbearer. Nehemiah was also a man of prayer and a man of great faith. The power of God was obviously at work in Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem as the wall was rebuilt in 52 days. Take some time to read the book of Nehemiah and just noticed how many prayers are recorded in the first 8 chapters alone.
We really have no reason to pray timid prayers. We already know that God can do anything. In the gospel of John, Jesus promises no less than six times that He will do whatever we ask in His name so that God will be glorified. I believe our timid prayers often come from the fact that we have prayed selfish prayers in the past, and we didn’t get the answer we desired, so that makes us feel like maybe God isn’t listening to us. James doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to prayer. Look at James 4:2, 3-2…You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Pretty blunt and to the point, ask God and don’t be selfish!
Friends, prayer is the most powerful tool we have as Christians. Calling on God and His power and submitting to His will is going to yield great results. Pray with courage and boldness. Put it in God’s hands and be ready to act because you just might be the answer to your own prayer!
Read James 5:13-20