Prayer
The storms that come against us do so with power strong enough to disrupt or destroy our lives. If we are going to overcome them, then we will need a greater degree of power and authority. All the power and authority we need have already been provided us in Christ: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19 KJV). What remains is how to release this power and authority to work for us. A sure way to do so is through fervent and effective prayer: “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16, AMPC). This text is also rendered thus: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16, NKJV). The very mention of effective prayer in Scripture means that there is also prayer that is ineffective and can hardly achieve anything. This is the type of prayer or prayer life that lacks consistency (Luke 18:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17), is flippant or half-hearted (1 Peter 5:7), done merely out of a sense of duty (cf. Romans 14:23b, 2 Timothy 3:5), makes requests which are outside the will or word of God, (James 4:3, 1 John 5:14), is mixed with a deliberate practice of sin (Psalm 66:18, Proverbs 28:9, Mark 11:25-27, 1 Peter 3:7, Proverbs 15:8,29), and is without faith (cf. James 1:6-7, Mark 11:24).
Prayer is not only a tool to employ when troubles or storms show up. It is one of the ways we keep the devil in check and prevent unwanted battles and needless casualties. It was when men slept that an enemy was able to sow weeds among good seeds (Matthew 13:25). In the same way, we give the devil place in our lives through spiritual laziness, including prayerlessness. Therefore, we ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1) – for the opposite of prayerfulness is not just prayerlessness but fainting (cf. Luke 18:1). And what hope is there for a faint (weak, dizzy, close to loosing consciousness) man in the midst of a storm?
In these last days, being prayerful is not just a nice quality to have. It’s needed for our very survival: “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). To receive strength or be accounted worthy through prayer to escape ALL THESE THINGS (i.e. including deception, wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes, pestilences, famines, persecution, great tribulation – see Luke 21:7-35) does not mean that God will take you out of the planet before any one or a combination of these events take place. Rather, we read in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God’s way of escape includes the strength or grace He gives us in the midst of trouble so that we are able to endure and overcome the trouble. This strength to overcome in these stormy last days also come through being alert in prayer. Thus we are also warned: “Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for the purpose of prayer” (1 Peter 4:7, NASB, HCSB).
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
May 31, 2021
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.