Prayer Not For The Fainthearted

James 5:16 tells us:.... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

This picture I've borrowed from the online art mall, because it shows that our prayers do not go without notice. There are shadows on the wall by the window. I love knowing that God has His angels doing His work FOR us. Mr. DiCianni was capturing the power of prayer in this picture.

I think many people think of prayer as something for the weak in mind and spirit. You know, like..."Now I lay me down to sleep", or maybe "Mary had a little lamb." A "wishful" musing that serves to placate ourselves or others in difficult times, in hopes to bring us relief and/or peace.

Prayer is communication with the One that Created us. It may be something that we breathe from a grateful heart with Thanksgiving, or giving Him honor with praise that is the fruit of our lips. It may also be standing in place FOR someone with the power and authority that Jesus brought with Him when He defeated satan in the presence of his own minions, was raised from hell with the keys to death, hell and the grave. He delegated that same authority to the Body of Christ, to defeat the enemy of our lives.

We're told in the Bible that God looked for ONE MAN to stand in the gap for entire nations, and pray.
We're told in the Bible that we're to pray that God's will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. What do we see around us that would not, could not be in Heaven?
We're told all through God's Word what has been affected with prayer. Wars have been won, lives have been healed, raised from the dead, people have been brought to restoration and wholeness...miracles, redemption from situations that are beyond our own imaginations.

Often, folks think of the Scripture as a nice story to read, and that it doesn't have much to do with how we live now.

IT IS what created this Earth and all that is in it.
IT IS what brings each of us OUT of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light. Salvation is believing in our hearts what we hear from God's Word, and confessing it with our mouths. God made it simple enough for even a child to understand.

People may pray to any number of gods. As Christians, we pray to God. Petitioning Him for what we cannot effect with our own flesh. Things that take Divine Intervention.

In I John 5:14, 15 we're told:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Don't know what His will is? Go on a treasure hunt in the Bible. It will fill your heart with faith and bring the confidence we need to pray what He says.

Prayer is powerful. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous person WILL avail much. It will accomplish everything that God sends it to through our own mouth.

Prayer is not for wimps or the fainthearted. It's taking a bold stand against a bold devil and his agendas. It's ALWAYS a win-win situation when we stand in prayer with God's Word. God will move Heaven and Earth to answer our prayers.

Next time you pray, Go to Ephesians 6 and make use of it with GREAT confidence. Be encouraged and know that circumstances in your life are not without remedy. Jesus paid a BIG price for our ability to come boldly before the Throne of Grace and make a difference here on Earth. Not only in our own lives, but to be people that will not sit back quietly and watch without taking a bold stand in prayer.

Father, I ask You to HELP US to remember to come to You with Your Word with confidence and KNOW that we can always make a difference, through Prayer. In Jesus' Name.