The Power of Prayer – The Conclusion

Confession of sin within the context of loving relationships amongst disciples inevitably leads to collective healing from the sin which is a pattern of choices and behavior that undermine one’s relationship with a holy and loving God.  Practically speaking, this pattern eventually and considerably harms a person; it may result in disease, debt, depression, divorce and even death.  Therefore, it is imperative the Church offers a refuge.  There, he finds “righteous people” who pray earnestly for him.  James declares these prayers will obtain “powerful and wonderful results.” 

Who are the “righteous?”  They are persons who live in right relationship with Almighty God.  All of the previously mentioned biblical characters boldly and fervently ask for their heart’s desires because of their close relationships with God.  One of prayer’s primary purposes is the maintenance of our constant contact with our heavenly Father.  In its simplest form, prayer is relational, practical and experiential.  It furthers the development of a vibrant relationship with the Maker of heaven and earth.  Prayer provides practical and spiritual tools to resolve any situation.  Keeping a prayer journal enables us to record personal experiences of the grace and love of God. 

The “righteous” understand their distinct privilege to pray about anything and everything.  From a hurtful hangnail to death, prayer is the response of the righteous.  Seldom does the social, economic and political turmoil of the world greatly disturb the righteous.  In response, they pray and ask God to empower His chosen people to be His vessels in settling these conflicts of culture, religion, money and power.  Whether dealing with micro or macro issues, personal or societal, the righteous never forsake the spiritual arsenal of prayer.  Indeed, prayer changes things; if not things, then people.

Norman Vincent Peale offers some rather helpful insights on prayer in his book, The Tough Minded Optimist.  He tells the story of a television personality who bemoans his difficulty in selling a house.  This guy’s house had been on the market for a while.  He expresses his frustration about not being able to sell it at the price he wants.  Peale suggests this television show hosts pray and ask God to orchestrate circumstances for a family that really needs the house to discover it.  Also, Peale recommends this fellow prays the needs of this family are met in the deal as he sells them the house at a fair price.  This advice focuses upon what is best for all parties.

Peale’s recommendations encourage us to forsake the normal tendency of merely asking God for what we want.  Instead, we willingly open our hearts and minds to becoming God’s vessels of love and instruments of His grace.  Simply put, we ask God to use us in every situation to manifest His “good, pleasing and perfect” will.  As we pray about our daily challenges or enduring obstacles, we take Peale’s advice to heart.  In so doing, we ask God to resolve these dilemmas in ways that please Him and serve His children rather than satisfy our self-centered motives.

This final story about the power of prayer paints a very vivid picture of its necessity.  A missionary tells the story of being imprisoned in a Russian gulag.  His attempts to spread the gospel behind the Iron Curtain of the former U. S. S. R. lands him there.  As his sentence progresses and his isolation increases, he despairs about his abandonment by the Church throughout the world.  He even considers suicide.  Eventually, a Christian reporter reaches him and asks what his fellow believers can do to help.  He says, “Simply pray.”  All over the world, Christians began to pray.  In time, these spiritually vital prayers penetrate the depths of the Iron Curtain.  On several occasions, this missionary felt on the brink of physical death due to malnourishment and oppressive treatment.  But, he contends the fervent prayers of the righteous people of God brought him back to life!

I conclude with reference to a few enduring and great prayers.  First, the prayer the Lord teaches His disciples, “The Lord’s Prayer,” contains bedrock petitions for all believers.  Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is a prayer to which all disciples aspire, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done.”  Our Episcopalian brothers and sisters use The Book of Common Prayer, which contains many verbally illustrious and spiritually moving petitions.  Then, The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi remains a spiritual classic in defining daily spiritual objectives.  Finally, The Serenity Prayer offers immediate strength and wisdom in any perplexity.