Keep Praying

In the book of James chapter 5, we can find words of encouragement about the power and effectiveness of our prayers. We can find these words:
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

God wants His people to have healthy prayer lives, which can be part of a healthy Church, praying for one another and experiencing the release of God's power.  The story found here of Elijah's dedication can help us to expand our horizons and recognize the amazing power of God that is available for the believer who will come before what is called the "throne of grace" in Hebrews 4 and to call upon a God who is loving and attentive and has invited us to pray.

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We can be committed to come before God in the name of Jesus and recognize there is great power when we pray. In Mark chapter 11, we can read:
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

One of the uniquely spiritual events that occurred in 2023 actually happened on a football field in Cincinnati, after Buffalo Bills cornerback Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and collapsed. This actually, as you know, set off a wave of public prayer.  And, it's interesting, when Damar suddenly was released from the hospital and began making public appearances, there were those that accused the NFL of theatrics or deception.

That does seem to have died down, but I would hope that the acceptance of public prayer would not; that it would only intensify.  A Decision Magazine article reported on a survey conducted in mid-January, some three weeks after Hamlin's collapse. 

The survey, from Summit.org, in association with McLaughlin and Associates, revealed that out of 1000 people indicating they were likely voters in a general election: "67.3%...believe that public calls for prayer after a national tragedy are effective in light of the public outpouring of prayer for NFL player Damar Hamlin; 19.7 percent believe such prayers are pointless, and 13.1% say they don’t know."

Broken down by age, you can find these percentages of those who "believe that public calls for prayer are effective."

• 54.7% of 18 to 29-year-olds 
• 62.3% of those aged 30-40
• 67.8% of voters aged 41-55
• 69.9% of voters aged 56-65
• 77.3% of voters over age 65.

Jeff Myers, President of Summit.org, stated:

“Unfortunately, young Americans seem more cynical about prayer, with a higher percentage than other age groups saying such calls to prayer are pointless,” he added. “But with many young athletes now publicly expressing their faith, perhaps the hearts of the rising generation will be more open to the very real power of faith and prayer.”

Franklin Graham is also quoted; he said: “There’s nothing more powerful for believers to do in a time of need than to call out to God,” adding, “God promises to hear and answer please from His people according to His gracious will.”

So two-thirds of Americans believe in prayer to some extent. But, prayer is more than just possessing a good luck charm or rubbing a genie's lamp.  The posture of prayer is very important.  We have to acknowledge the supremacy of God and humble ourselves before Him.  

That's where the person of prayer comes in.  Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through Him.  While prayer may help comfort the non-believer or adjust his or her state of mind, true prayer that connects to God comes through the name of Jesus by those who have called upon Him and been born again. 

When we come to Jesus, we can truly experience the power of prayer.  Where we really, really communicate with God.  When we can approach Him by faith and know that He has heard us and will respond according to His will. We will see God work as we call upon Him in power.