POWER THROUGH PRAYER

We release the power of God through prayer. Imagine an owner in the front of their house lamenting the condition of their yard. The grass is brown and crackling under your feet. The plants are drooping just holding on for dear life. The yard just looks thirsty. If you were walking by this house and the man asked you what he should do. I would imagine you would tell him to turn on the faucet and water his lawn for an extended period of time and repeat the process every day. In a matter of a few days, that dry and thirsty land would become a revived emerald green. What is the condition of the yard of your life? Your friends, co-workers, family members. Do they need watering?

Elijah prayed seven times for something God already said He was going to do because he was releasing what God wanted to do in His life. Daniel prayed and fasted for twenty-one days according to Daniel 10. Verse 12 says, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first daythat you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.” The angel Gabriel left heaven with the answer the first day Daniel prayed but there was spiritual warfare that was keeping him. Daniel kept praying and Gabriel was able to get through with the answer.The answer is sent the first day you pray but we wrestle with dark forces. Imagine if Daniel stopped praying after 20 days? In order to see fulfillment our lives, we need to pray to move heaven to earth.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is an unbroken series of supernatural interventions. Almost every page in your Bible pulsates with evidence of God’s involvement in the affairs of mankind. Clearly, He is eager to be an active participant in our daily lives. The Bible calls Him, “the God who answers” (1 Kings 18:24). He answers prayer because that’s just who He is. He talks. He talks back. He likes to talk back.

Isaiah the prophet visited Hezekiah with a word from the Lord. “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’”(2 Kings 20:1). Hezekiah responds in prayer and contending before God. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court the Lord sends a new word.“Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life” (2 Kings 20:5). Hezekiah seeking the Lord in prayer gave him fifteen more years to live.

Hannah was unable to become pregnant and through prayer the Lord gives her a son who become the greatest prophet in Israel’s history. Isaac’s beloved wife Rebekah was barren, but he prayed to the Lord and she conceived a double portion blessing, two children. Peter was imprisoned but through prayer was escorted by an angel right out of that prison in front of his enemies. Moses prayed to see the glory of the Lord and was hidden in the cleft of the rock to only see the backside of the Lord. From this encounter the glory was so heavy on him that he has to wear a veil. Daniel prayed for himself and his friends to receive an interpretation to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Once he received it, they not only lived but were elevated to royal standings.

ON THE COUCH WITH GOD

God answers prayer! If we believe this, we will pray more. We will tap into the invested power of God in our lives and distribute it through prayer generously. Take time now and water the landscape of your life in prayer.