Elizabeth Spencer
1. Prayer Connects Us to the “I AM”
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)
Prayer is a conversation with God. Because our great High Priest Jesus has gone before us and torn down the veil separating us in our fallenness from God in His holiness, we can-upon confession of sin and profession of faith-walk right into the throne room of grace and have a private audience with the maker of the universe. We can do this anytime, from any location. This is direct communication with the God who knows us intimately and loves us infinitely. And in this communication, we find a connection to the true source of our strength.
2. Prayer Demonstrates Our Faith
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
When we pray, we confirm our faith. We make visible and external our internal, invisible belief in something or someone we cannot see fully – yet. When we cry out to God, we give voice to our confidence that He exists, that He cares about what troubles us, and that He has the power to do something about those troubles.
3. Prayer Pauses Us
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.” (James 5:13)
It’s worth noting that James’ answer to his own question—“Is anyone among you in trouble?”—is not, “Post about it on social media” or “Stay up half the night fretting about it” or “Order something online that will make you feel better.” No, James’ characteristically brief response is, “Let them pray.”
Prayer puts us on holy hold. It halts our striving and ceasing, which are so often fruitless or at the very least premature, and stops us long enough for God to get a word in edgewise. By this pause, we are often prevented from doing something that is a waste of time or something that would actually make the situation worse.
4. Prayer Makes Us More Like Christ
One way we can be like someone is to do what they do. Jesus prayed when He was baptized (Luke 3:21). He prayed on the mountain (Matthew 14:23). He prayed in the early morning (Mark 1:35). He prayed for Himself (John 17:1-5). He prayed for all believers (John 17:20-26).
Sometimes, I’m tempted not to pray if a situation seems too far gone for a “yes” from God. But here, as everywhere, Jesus shows me a better way, the way He took. In the Garden of Gethsemane, though He knew God would not—could not, for the sake of love-grant His plea, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me” (Luke 22:42). And then, perhaps with the strength He found by connecting with His Father through prayer. Jesus prayed the most powerful prayer of all: “yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
The power of prayer lies not in its ending but in its beginning – not nearly so much in God’s answer as in our asking in the first place. Prayer is our posture before God—literally, sometimes, when we bend the knee or lie prostrate, but always in the bowed-low stance of our heart toward our on-high God. We might be inclined to say “all we can do is pray” about a need or a burden or a fear. But when we understand prayer’s true power, we realize a far greater “all”: God can do all this with us, through us, and for us when we pray.
