“The Power of Prayer”

Words from the Daughter of Zion

“The Power of Prayer”

This week I’m going to begin some time on the subject of prayer, and I believe the study may continue for several weeks. We will see how it all goes. As well as the subject of praise that comes along with the subject of prayer.

I will start out with some scriptures here: James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen” Also let us go to Luke 11:1-4, “One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his followers said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his followers”. Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come. Give us the food we need for each day. Forgive us for our sins, because we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And do not cause us to be tempted’.” Prayer is the expression of mankind’s dependence upon Father God for all things. Prayer is sweet communion that the Lord Jesus had with His Father. We also can have that same kind of sweet communion with Father God as well. We gain closeness, love, joy, power, strength through this awesome contact and relationship with God.

Hebrew words translated “prayer” in the Old Testament: There are 6 different words use to denote prayer, but the 1 most frequently used is “Tefillah” (tef il law), which means supplication or intercession. The other terms used carry meanings such as “to plead a cause”, “to interpose as mediator”, to “burn incense”, “to whisper”.

There are 5 Greek words translated “prayer” in the New Testament that carry meanings such as: “prayer for particular benefits”; confidence in access to Father God”; “petition, requests”; “prayer in general “; “a vow”.

Prayer is most simply talking with God. Talking also involves listening as well as speaking. We need to hear from Father God as well as talk to Him. Our talking to Him is for 2 major reasons; to develop our relationship to and with Him, and in our service to Him. Matthew 7:7-11 says, “Ask, and God will give to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. If your children ask for bread, which of your would give them a stone? Or if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him”. Prayer is to share, to discuss our feelings, desires, needs, problems, and seek direction, with the Father. Prayer is to enable us to be effective in our service to Him. To overcome evil, and to cause Father God’s will to be done in the earth.

Along with prayer, praise and the attitude of praise involve 6 specific areas of praying to Father God. 1. Prayer begins with praise, so always have that praise in our hearts and minds. He is so worthy of our praise. No matter the situation, or the subject matter of our prayer time with Him, praise is the key to it all. 2. Prayer continues with thanksgiving. 3. Prayer involves confession. 4. Prayer delights in intercession. 5. Prayer invites petition. 6. Prayer surely does involve that time of listening. That is the utmost reason we go to Him, that is to hear His voice, to express our love to Him, and His will for us in our lives. Spending time in His presence is so awesome, learn well to hear His voice, to follow Him in all that we do to serve Him, and to bring others to salvation. Do not miss out on the blessing of prayer, on the communion of the Lord Jesus. The precious time of abiding in Him and walking with Him in all areas of our lives.

Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus used this story to teach his followers that they should always pray and never lose hope.” The Lord Jesus wants us to do this, to pray. This is where our hope is, it is our communion with Him and Father God.

The apostles exhorted the early believers to pray. Read Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:1 & 8, 1 Peter 4:7, Jude 20, Ephesians 6:18. The examples of the Old Testament Saints as well Read Genesis 4:26, Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:4, Genesis 21:33, Psalms 1-72, Daniel 6:10, James 5:17-18. The examples that Jesus gave us are in Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:18, Luke 11:1, John 17, Hebrews 5:17. Also go to these passages : Acts 1:14, Acts 3:1, Acts 6:2-4, Acts 10:9, Romans 1:9-10, Ephesians 1:15-18, Philippians 1:3-5 , 2 Timothy 1:3, Philemon 4-6. Then go to these passages: Colossians 1:3-4,& 9-10, Colossians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Acts 2:42, Acts 4:23-31, Acts 12:5.

Prayer changes things: James 5:10 says, “Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They suffered many things, but they were patient.” The reading of the scriptures of James 5:13-18 are truly where we see the power of prayer. Take time to read, to study on this as well. Matthew 21:21-22 is a really good place to go to see the prayer of faith “Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to this tree and more . You will be able to say to this mountain, ‘Go, fall into the sea.’ And if you have faith, it will happen. If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer.” This is the passage where Jesus commanded the fig tree to dry up, because it was not producing figs.

We do have to have faith, determination in (time of) prayer and in our daily lives. It is really how we live and exist, how we breathe. In that total trusting in the Lord Jesus each and every day, prayer does change things. A lot of times it is our minds and hearts that do the changing, and we are then hearing the voice of the Father concerning the situations at hand. In that sweet time of communion with Him, He is leading us, and directing us in our steps to live this life.

In our prayer time we need to pray in faith believing, because doubt can not and will not change anything. It is the faith of believing, and thus receiving that is going to change things in our prayer life. When praying we need to be specific. We pray for the providence of our daily food. Matthew 6:11, Luke 11:3. In our prayer time we see the change of (environmental) conditions. James 5:17-18. In our prayer time we may even influence government leaders. 1Timothy 2:1-2. In prayer we bring release from prison, Acts 12:1-19, Philippians chapter 22. Hebrews 13:18-19. We may believe for healing in prayer, and there are a lot of scriptures on this subject of healing, for now go to James 5:14-15. In our prayer time we believe for deliverance from bodily harm- there is always Psalms 91, and then go to Romans 15:30-31, 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, 2 Thessalonians 3:2. Do not forget the passage in Ephesians 6, this is very important, for doing spiritual warfare. In prayer we have deliverance from spiritual attack – again Ephesians 6 does apply here as well, and again Psalms 91 is a very good passage for this, as well as Matthew 6:13, Mark 9:29, John 17:6-9,15, Luke 22:31-32, and other passages as you dig in the word and see His word. In prayer we have forgiveness of sins, Matthew 6:12, Luke 11:4, there are other scriptures on this as well. In prayer we protect our minds – there are loads of scriptures on this, for now go to Philippians 4:6-7. The whole book of Philippians is really good to read for seeing the joy of living this life with, and in Him. There is prayer for receiving the Holy Spirit – in Acts chapter 2. There are other passages on this as well. In prayer we gain the maturity of being a believer, and in living this life with Him. Passages to help us in this area are: Ephesians 1:15-19, Ephesians 3:13-19, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-12, Colossians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 13:9, 1 Thessalonians 3:10-13.

Watch and pray. Mark 14:37-38 says, “Then Jesus went back to his followers and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are your sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. The spirit wants to do what is right but the body is weak.” Prayer keeps our ‘spiritual man’ awake and alert. Many believers, many Christians fall into temptation, and sin simply because they are spiritually asleep (caught off guard), through an obvious lack of prayer and spending that precious time with the Father. That time (is when) we all need to be in His word and hearing His audible voice, and we can only hear that when we are in the time of prayer and that sweet abiding in Him. As I have mentioned earlier, prayer is talking with, talking to our Father God, it is communication with Him. Communication builds relationship. There is no short cut to getting a relationship with Him. It takes time, it takes time in His presence, time in prayer that is so needed. Prayer opens the door to the supernatural in our lives. Everything we desire of Father God is available through the petition in prayer. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Judah, pray to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets you have never heard before.” As a scripture I used here earlier- Luke 11:8 says, “So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search(seek), and your will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.” As you pray, make prayer a time that you spend daily- it is so vital to living, so vital to living this life here on earth as a believer in the Lord Jesus. We need to spend time with the Lord, we need to spend time with our Father. We need to hear His voice, we need His love, His life, His direction for our lives. Prayer changes things as we follow in His obedience. Prayer renews, prayer refreshes. This world is so full of clutter. We need to get alone with Him to have that time to communicate, this is where we gain our strength in Him. We have delight in hearing His voice, just as He delights in hearing our voice.

God bless you. Stay in touch. If you need prayer, encouragement, just let me know.

Until next time, love and prayers, Teresa

Blessings to you all this week and stay in touch-

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Teresa Kay Abert

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