The idea of power inherent in prayer is a very popular one. According to the Bible, the power of prayer is, quite simply, the power of God, who hears and answers prayer. Consider the following:
1) The Lord God Almighty can do all things; there is nothing impossible for Him .
2) The Lord God Almighty invites His people to pray to Him. Prayer to God should be made persistently, with thanksgiving, in faith, within the will of God, for the glory of God, and from a heart right with God.
3) The Lord God Almighty hears the prayers of His children. He commands us to pray, and He promises to listen when we do. “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears”.
4) The Lord God Almighty answers prayer. “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me”. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles”.
Another popular idea is that the amount of faith we have determines whether or not God will answer our prayers. However, sometimes the Lord answers our prayers in spite of our own lack of faith.
The power of prayer does not flow from us—it is not special words we say or the special way we say them or even how often we say them. The power of prayer is not based on a certain direction we face or a certain position of our bodies. The power of prayer does not come from the use of artifacts or icons or candles or beads. The power of prayer is based on Who hears our prayer and answers it. Prayer places us in contact with Almighty God, and we should expect almighty results, whether or not He chooses to grant our petitions, deny our requests, or ask us to wait on Him. Whatever the answer to our prayers, the God to whom we pray is the source of all power, and He can and will answer us, according to His perfect will and timing.
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