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The Power of Prayer
“Pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace....His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4: 6-7 TLB).
When I was a child, my mother taught me a bed time prayer: "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And in the morning when I wake, make me a good girl for Jesus' sake." This was many years ago, but prayer remains a special part of my life today because my mother taught me to pray. She helped me understand that God listens to and welcomes our prayers. It caused me to teach my children to pray, and they, in turn, are now teaching their children. Prayer is a never-failing approach to the heart of God because we have confidence that when we ask anything according to God’s will, God hears us (1 John 5: 14).
 The artist, Albrecht Durer, was motivated to paint the famous "Praying Hands" after he observed the praying posture of his closest friend's hands—gnarled and swollen from hard labor, but so gently joined and uplifted, pointing heavenward to God.
Moses believed in prayer. While he was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he had to face the enemy, Amalek. Moses was physically tired, but he recalled God's miracles of manna from heaven and water from the rock. Moses believed in prayer and God's power. His brother, Aaron, and Hur joined Moses and held up his hands and supported his spirit until the sun went down and the enemy was defeated (Exodus 17:8-16). There is power in prayer!
The perfect example of a "man of prayer" is our Lord Jesus. Because He knew spending time with God was important, Jesus taught us to pray and He gave us the beautiful "Lord's Prayer." He taught us we can go to God in prayer any moment of each day. His own life was one of prayer. He prayed early in the morning, at night, before His baptism and entry into public ministry, before He ate, when He was weary, before choosing the 12 disciples and before announcing to the disciples His approaching death. When life was very busy and before great temptations, Jesus prayed. After great miracles and achievements, He thanked God. Jesus prayed alone, with a chosen few, and in the midst of a great multitude. Before His death, He prayed to God at Gethsemane. As the Son of God, Jesus prayed on the cross, in the last moments of His life for God to forgive those who crucified Him. Jesus' last utterance before his death was a prayer. Luke 23: 46 says "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." And the best part is now that Jesus is with the Heavenly Father, interceding for us in prayer.
When members of my family say "Mom, will you pray for me?" I thank God for giving me this gift of prayer. My loved ones know the comfort and peace it brings. Be thankful for those who pray for you. Faithful prayer partners will agree with Bishop J. C. Ryle, who wrote, "A man may reach Heaven without learning, or books, or knowledge, but no man reached Heaven without prayer."
Did you pray for someone today? Did someone pray for you?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the gift of talking with You and knowing You hear our prayers. Amen.
Jane Bartz
lay woman
First Baptist Church
Gillette, WY
and devotional writer
for The Secret Place.
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