Prayer Makes a Difference

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  John 14:13–14

Throughout the Scriptures, we find passages, which confirm that prayer makes a difference. When Joshua and the Israelites fought the Amalekites (Exodus 17), it was Moses praying on top of the hill, which made the difference in the battle. 

When Elijah was on the top of Mount Carmel, it was prayer that caused the end of the drought. Seven times Elijah bent down to the ground in prayer before the rain came (1 Kings 18:41-45). “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective,” writes James (James 5:16). 

Pray was a strategic tool for building the early church. In Acts 1:14, we see that the disciples “all joined together constantly in prayer.” Prayer was effective in initiating the release of Peter from prison through the intervention of an angel (Acts 12:1-19). 

Paul instructed the believers in Colossi to “devote themselves to prayer” (Colossians 4:2). He also included prayer as a vital piece of the armour of God instructing the Ephesians to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18).

Pray can transform our society, bringing peace, godliness and holiness and drawing people into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ… 

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1–4 )

Today, prayer is the most powerful tool that we have to see the church built, and our world changed.  

Yet so often, it is the tool, which is least used or turned to as a last resort. 

Imagine the change that could take place if we took the work of prayer seriously.