The Power of Prayer:
‘I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting’. That is what St. Paul tells Timothy, in I Tim.2: 8. The scriptures are full of exhortation to people to pray to the Father. The prophets of the Old Testament times prayed to God (Yahweh) for guidance, the apostles and saints in the New Testament prayed, Jesus (Yahshua) also spent much time in prayer, the list is endless.
What is prayer?  Prayer is conversation with God (Yahweh), a direct address to Him. Prayer must be sincere. It should not be taken as a mere formality that we observe when we get up in the morning or when we go to bed at night. It should be a time of humble reflection and meditation. Effective prayer requires purity of heart. King David said, ‘if I regard iniquity I my heart, the Lord will not hear me’ (Psa.68: 18). Prayer is based on belief in God (Yahweh). Whatever we ask in Christ (Messiah)'s name, which is for our good, and suitable for us, he shall give it to us. The matter of our prayer must be agreeable to the will of God. We should not ask what is against His will or against His glory or majesty. Then we may have confidence that the prayer of faith shall be heard in heaven.

If we want our prayers to be heard and answered, we should have a forgiving spirit. Matt.6: 14, ‘but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ Our prayers should be simple. (Matt.6: 6) We should not be like the Pharisees, who love to pray standing in the corners, to be seen of men. God (Yahweh) is not impressed with long prayers. He does not want high sounding words or quotations from the Bible. Remember, He has written every word in the Bible! We should pray with humility and repentance, always keeping in mind that we are not worthy even to pick up the crumbs under his table.

When we pray, all the believers should be of one mind. Matt.18: 19-20 says, ‘if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.’ That is all it takes, two people in agreement. There should be unity of spirit for prayers to be effective. Along with unity, we should also be patient. We should not be discouraged when things don’t happen immediately after we pray. Remember the story of the persistent widow. (Luke.18: 1-8) She continued to pester the judge till he avenged her of her adversary.

Generally our prayers are just a long list of wishes or wants. ‘I want this, I want that, do this for me, do that for me, Amen’. Our prayers have become mechanical, just a meaningless litany that we recite by rote or from memory before we go to bed. Our Saviour has given us a prayer (Matt.6: 9-13) which should form the basis of all our prayers.

We should open our prayer by adoring our Father, praising Him, glorifying Him and giving the honour due to Him. Even Nebuchadnezzar, when he returned to his senses, blessed the Lord and praised and honoured Him (Dan.4: 34). We should confess our sins to Him. We cannot expect Him to forgive us without confessing our sins. (I John.1: 9). Supplications and intercession should be made for all men, as Paul has advised (I Tim.2: 1), with thanksgiving (Phil.4: 6). When we pray, our faith should be so strong that we should believe that we have our request is already fulfilled. We should immediately thank Him for having done the miracle in our lives. Remember what our Lord Jesus (Yahshua) said, ‘What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them’, (Mk.11: 24) Close your prayers with praise and thanksgiving.(Ps.135:3)

When we pray, we have communion with God (Yahweh). This is possible when we have calm and quiet before our prayers. Find a place away from all distractions and outside influences. We do not feel completely free if we think someone is listening. It is only when we are alone in His presence that we really pour out our hearts to the Lord. Lock up yourself in your room and then pray (Matt.6: 6). Messiah used to go out on to a mountain to pray alone. Even in the garden of Gethsemane, He left His disciples and going away from them, prayed to the Father. (Luke.22: 41) And at such times, the Spirit itself teaches us to pray (Rom.8: 26)

Once we find peace and quiet, wait patiently for God (Yahweh).He is already there, with you, but He is waiting for you to leave all your worldly cares and thoughts and then He will hear you and speak to you. He will speak to you in a still, small voice, which you can hear only when you listen attentively (I Kings.19: 12).

When we are about to pray, it often happens that we suddenly remember some unfinished work, and we cannot postpone it. Or some other distraction arises which leaves us in a disturbed mood and our noble thoughts of prayer and meditation vanish. Many times, when we kneel down to pray we start yawning and feel sleepy. These are a few devices that satan uses to prevent us from having communion with God (Yahweh). It is in times like this that we need the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We should forget self and surrender ourselves totally to Him. Remember, god became fed up with the empty prayers of Israel and He said, ‘And when you spread your hands, I will hide my eyes from you make many prayers, I will not hear.’ (Isa.1: 15)

When you pray, tell Him what you feel or need in simple words. Pour out your heart to Him. ‘A broken and a contrite heart, O God (Yahweh), thou will not despise. (Ps.51: 17) Acknowledge your sins before Him. Whatever we achieve is not of our own goodness but it is only through His grace. ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord’, (Zach.4:6). ‘Prayer is releasing the energies of God (Yahweh), for prayer is asking God (Yahweh) to do what we cannot do’.