If you live in the Bible Belt or know anyone who does, you’ve likely heard about “the power of prayer.” You’ve heard about prayer changing situations, relationships, and lives. But do you think about to whom you’re praying? Of course, we know we’re praying to God, but does that affect the words we offer up to the Father?
We can get so caught up in our lives, in everything we have to do, in all the boxes we have to check, that it’s easy to treat prayer as a checkbox alongside everything else. We pray for prayer requests of others, our family, and for ourselves. We pray our loved ones will be kept safe and that God will direct our paths in a way that is favorable to us. We pray for our comfortable life. We pray without thinking of the authority of God.
The authority of the One we pray to
“For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: 'I am the Lord, and there is no other.'” Isaiah 45:18
The God you pray to is the God of the Universe. He is the God who formed the earth out of waters and created the stars. I am always in awe of God’s creation when looking at mountains and valleys and nature; it’s hard not to be. The same God who made the veins inside a leaf is the same God who created you and knew you in the womb.
This is the God who has authority over everything, and you are talking with him. We should come before him humbled and meek. God hates arrogance. We should not come before him asking asking asking for things that will only serve our selfish nature. James 4:3 says,
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
Imagine the absurdity of coming before God asking for a bigger house and more money when his Word tells us to not store up our treasures on earth. Our prayers are not to meant to ask a genie for every earthly thing we want. They are meant to commune with your heavenly Father to praise him, thank him, intercede for others, and make requests that work to further God’s kingdom.
Faith in prayer
When we ask for something—something big—do we have faith it will be answered? Do we really believe God will intercede for those who love Him? This is something I struggled with that I wasn’t even aware I struggled with for quite some time. I would pray, “heal this person, make this situation better, guide this decision,” but I wouldn’t place any real faith in the prayer. I would rely on my own understanding for the situation.
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” James 5:14-15
We should call on God not because we feel we have to or to check a box. We should call on Him because we believe He will listen to our prayers and will move. He will listen to those who are righteous and care for their anxieties. We must have faith that our prayers are being heard and will be answered one way or the other.
Wrapping up
Come to God thankful you are able to speak to the Creator of the Universe. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that I don’t deserve to be able to talk with God. I do not deserve to ask him of my requests. I don’t deserve being able to give my cares and anxieties to him. But because of his mercy and love, because his son Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, but rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness,” (Phillippians 2:7-8) we are able to speak with Him. And what a blessing that should not be taken for granted. Rather, we should realize the full weight of the power of prayer we hold in our hands.
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