WHEN BUILDING A new home, an essential element is wiring it for electricity. However, wiring alone isn’t enough to turn the lights on. Electric lines run from the house to larger utility lines along the street. Those electric lines eventually reach the power plant, which is what generates the electricity that gives us light.
Prayer is the power plant of our lives and the power plant of churches. Prayer generates the power in our lives.
When things aren’t going well for us, our power supply might be weak and need to be recharged. Think of a rechargeable battery. Eventually, all the charge in that battery is used up, and it needs to be plugged into a power source. It’s like that with us. Through prayer, we get recharged.
Let me ask you a thought-provoking question. If the electricity in your home were generated by your prayer life, how bright would your lights be? And yet, do you realize that your everyday life is powered by your prayer life?
James 5:16 (NIV) says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”
Our prayers are powerful. Prayer greatly affects our circumstances and the people around us.
If the electricity in your home were generated by your prayer life, how bright would your lights be?
Moses Changed God’s Mind
The Book of Exodus tells how Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days getting instructions from God. Because He was gone for such a long time, the Israelites made a calf out of gold and began worshipping it.
Their actions angered God so much that He wanted to destroy them. But Moses interceded for the Children of Israel. He reminded God of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to make their descendants as numerous as the stars (Exod. 32:13). Scripture says, “Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened” (Exod. 32:14 NIV). Never underestimate the power of your prayers.
We see in the Book of Numbers that Moses again interceded for the Israelites. He sent 12 men to spy out the land of Canaan. Ten brought back an evil report, but Joshua and Caleb brought back a good report.
The Israelites were so upset with Joshua and Caleb that they were going to stone them until God came down in His glory to save them (Num. 14:10). But God’s anger was kindled, and He again told Moses He wanted to destroy the Children of Israel. Moses once again interceded on their behalf. And God said, “I will pardon them as you have requested” (Num. 14:20 NLT).
Moses’ prayers changed the mind of God. Why? Because he communed with God. It’s important to establish the kind of relationship with God in which you can change His mind.
Jesus’ Example
While Jesus was on the earth, He lived a life dependent on the Heavenly Father. Day after day, we see Him praying to the Father. If it was important for Jesus to pray to His Heavenly Father, we should pray to Him too.
We are called to a lifestyle of prayer. But often the only time we pray is when we call on our heavenly butler. “Lord, give me this. Lord, give me that.” Or we cry out to our heavenly lifeguard. “God, help me! I haven’t been reading the Word or praying. Now I’m in a mess.” And in His mercy, God helps us and delivers us out of our situation.
Our Assignment
It’s time that we pick up our job of what God has commissioned us to do. Jesus said,
JOHN 14:12–14
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Unless we commune with the Father, we won’t have the power to do the greater works. And if we don’t have a relationship with Him, we might not be comfortable asking Him for something.
For example, if we needed to borrow a car, we wouldn’t ask a stranger. We would ask someone we had a relationship with.
For us to be comfortable in asking the Heavenly Father for something, and for Him to be willing to do whatever we ask, we must have a relationship with Him. Joshua had that kind of relationship with
God.
The Lord commanded Joshua to study the Law of Moses. He told him, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).
Joshua obeyed. He did exactly what God had commanded him. He had a relationship with God. And because of that relationship, he could ask God for anything, knowing that his petition would be granted.
‘Sun, Stand Still!’
Joshua went into battle against five kings. In the midst of the fighting, he called on the Lord.
JOSHUA 10:12–14 (NKJV)
12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. . . .
14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.
I want to impress upon you so indelibly that when you commune with your Heavenly Father and pray, He listens to you! There is power in your prayers. We have not because we ask not. And you can be certain that whatever you ask in Jesus’ Name will be done for you.
Author
Lynette Hagin
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