What is the Power of Prayer?

The power of prayer comes directly from God. We can use it freely due to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

We are all aware of what prayer can do for us. Praying helps us grow closer to God, reminding us of His incredible power, grace, and mercy. However, sometimes we aren’t aware of the power of prayer. Sometimes don’t we wonder how a simple prayer can grant us whatever we need? Why is it that uttering a simple request to God reassures us and removes all our anxiety and worries about tomorrow? Honestly, how powerful is prayer?

What is the Power of Prayer?

Jesus Christ tells us about the power of prayer in Matthew 18:18-20, 

“Truly, I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be released in heaven.

Again, honestly, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, I am with them.” 

The power of prayer isn’t from how many beautiful words you mutter; it comes from the prayer itself. When we gather and pray in Jesus’ name, we recognize that we cannot do anything without Him (John 15:5), thus allowing God’s power to work through us. 

Why is Prayer Powerful?

Prayer is powerful because it comes directly from God. Miracles such as Moses parting the Red Sea or Jesus healing the sick happened through prayer. Power isn’t the only thing we get from worship but communication and a relationship with God. The act of praying allows us to open our hearts to God and intimately communicate with Him. Prayer is powerful because it is a direct way to talk and listen to God’s instructions. 

What does the Bible say about the Power of Prayer? 

It is an act of worship.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, praying is an act of worship. How? Besides asking for our needs and requests, we also thank God and exalt His name when we pray. We recognize God for who He is and acknowledge that we wouldn’t be where we are without Him. We rejoice because of who God is and His incredible power working through our lives. Prayer also humbles us and reminds us that we are nothing if for God’s grace and love. 

God is all-powerful and can do all things.

Praying reminds us that God is all-powerful and that nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37) when we surrender it all to Him. When we pray to God, we acknowledge that God is all we need. Nothing in this world could hinder God from displaying His incredible power. Often we look for larger-than-life miracles for us to remember that our God is all-powerful. We forget that God continually works through big or small blessings in our lives.

God invites His people to pray.

God encourages His people to come together and pray. God wants us all to go to him for wisdom (James 1:5) and to pray persistently (Luke 18:1) because God wants us to depend on Him and to have a genuine relationship with Him. It also says in Hebrews 4:16 that we are told to pray in confidence so that God may grant us mercy and grace in our time of need. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we can now come into God’s presence without consulting priests or prophets. We can talk to God on our own and hear His leading directly from God.

God answers our prayers.

God answers our prayers, it may not be in ways we imagine, but He does. Jesus even says in John 16:23-24 that whatever we ask from God, He will give it to us. Even when we lack faith, God grants our prayers (Matthew 17:20) because He wants us to believe and remember to depend on and trust Him. He is a merciful God who gives us multiple chances to get back up and trust in Him again.

What are the Benefits of a Powerful Prayer?

It brings us closer to God.

Praying should humble us because we utter the first lines of praise and thanksgiving for all God has given us. When we pray, we must constantly remind ourselves of who we are talking to and what a privilege it is to come into His presence freely. It helps us draw nearer to God because then we understand that we have to trust and depend on Him alone. Being dependent on God isn’t a weakness because our God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and merciful. Choosing to surrender our fears, worries, and doubts and instead allow God to fill our hearts with hope and reassurance helps us build a close relationship with God.

It helps us enter God’s presence.

People could not freely come into God’s presence in the Old Testament. They would need to ask priests or prophets and make a sacrifice before they could even talk to God. But that all changed when Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Hebrews 4:16 says that we should come in God’s presence in confidence. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we can directly come before God. Hebrews 4:16 urges us to make the most out of this privilege and pray confidently because we are reassured that He hears all our prayers and concerns.

Prayer aligns your will with God’s will.

When we pray, often, it is because we need something from God. Whatever it may be, we usually come into prayer when we are in desperate need of help. Though our God is indeed gracious and merciful, our prayers shouldn’t only be limited to what we need from Him; we should also seek what God wants from us. When we worship, we must seek and ask for God’s will. Though we are encouraged to ask for whatever it is we need, we also need to use the opportunity to seek God’s plan for us.

Prayer invites the Holy Spirit into your life.

When we make it a habit to pray every day, we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives and become more sensitive to His leadership and guidance. The Holy Spirit not only helps us find the answers we need, but when our heart is restless, the Holy Spirit also gives us peace and comfort. It also helps remind us to avoid making the same mistake twice. Most of the time, the Holy Spirit is that voice in your head that makes us think twice before making a decision.

Prayer helps you become more like Jesus.

When we pray, we allow God to shape us and guide us to become more like Jesus. And once we practice being compassionate like Him, serving others like Jesus served His disciples, and loving like God has loved us, a significant change overcomes us. Praying is the first step to becoming more like Jesus; putting in the work to continue to live and be like Him is the hard part. It would take effort and constantly choosing Him over our desires, but it will all be worth it in the end.

Is There Anything Prayer Cannot Do?

We know that prayer can strengthen our relationship and dependence on God. It helps us give peace of mind and heart, especially when we feel hopeless. Prayer allows us to come into God’s presence and listen to His voice. It also reminds us to forgive and be more compassionate towards others like God had been merciful to us. And lastly, the act of praying reminds us of God’s work through our lives.

These are some things that prayer can do for us; however, there is also a handful that prayer cannot do. We cannot pray for someone to be saved and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We can only pray for God to use people that would help them know more about Jesus. Another thing prayer cannot do is sanctify a sinner. We can only pray for forgiveness but being free from sin can only be done when we conform to the word of God.

Conclusion

The power of prayer doesn’t come from us but flows directly from God. It comes from an all-powerful God that desires to grant the requests and prayers of the people He loves. We can all freely tap into the power of prayer when we believe in God’s power. This isn’t exclusive; anyone can pray to God, and He hears us all the same. 

Prayer helps us draw strength and courage from God when we feel our challenges are too much to handle. It also reminds us to be humble because everything comes from God, not our efforts. However, praying isn’t only for us to ask God for our wants and needs. The act of praying also requires us to listen and be sensitive to God’s voice. It brings us closer to Him and helps us become more like Jesus.