The Power of Prayer
In my last article I wrote that of spending 30-minute reading the Bible followed by prayer would be life changing. When you read the Bible, you will get a Biblical worldview, you will understand the truth of God, and you are planting the Word of God in your hearts.
Reading the Bible is truly life changing. I know this because when I first became a Christian, I read the New Testament 3 times in 4 months and I read the entire Bible in a year. Reading the Word of God became the unshakeable foundation of my faith. What I found out in my own life is spending time in prayer after I read the Bible took my faith to other level. It was easier to understand God’s will in life, to withstand sin and strive to follow God’s purpose and plan in my life.
The Bible has 650 prayers listed, with 450 recorded answers to those prayers. The Bible records Jesus praying 25 times during His ministry. His prayers were all before important events in His ministry. As followers of Jesus Christ shouldn’t we follow His example and teachings? Of course we should.
When we go before God in prayer we are not trying to convince Him to do what we want. We are aligning our thoughts and will with His thoughts and will. Let us remember what the Apostle John wrote, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14–15 NKJV) How do you know the will of God? By reading the Word of God.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV)
Reading the Bible gives us a Biblical worldview and helps us to understand the truth of God. Going before Him in prayer brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Many, if not all of us struggle with our thoughts. The power of prayer frees you from those struggles, not by your power, but by the power of God.
Many of us will come up with plan A. B, and C to resolve an issue in our life. When that doesn’t work, we move to plan D, E, and F. Finally, at our wits end, we turn to plan G. We go to God in prayer. We need to make turning to God in prayer our first response.
Pastor Timothy Hammond
Oak Street Baptist Church
