If you’re going to say a prayer, it’s probably because you want something to change. When you pray for a blessing, you want to feel blessed afterward. When you pray for protection, you want to feel safe afterward. When you pray for deliverance, you want your problems to go away as soon as possible.
But if change doesn’t happen—or if change doesn’t happen like you think it should—you might conclude that praying doesn’t really work. This article expatiate on examples of the power of prayer in the bible, and what does jesus say about prayer in the bible
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Stories About Prayer In The Bible
That’s probably why God has filled the Bible with stories of answered prayers. People implored God to intercede in their messy lives, which of course, He did. As you read these incredible stories of answered prayers, notice two important aspects:
-The attitude and motives of the person who prayed
-The power with which God answered
These stories could change the way you pray and change how your prayers get answered.
One of the greatest motivations of praying is that we know that prayers come with answers. The Bible is our go-to manual as Christians; it is filled with the marvellous works of God. The stories of miracles, sign and wonders recorded in the precious word of God gives us hope that surely our God answers prayers. It is powerful to know prayers God answered in the Bible.
We will be examining 3 examples of prayers God answered in the Bible through the Old Testament:
Prayers God Answered in the Bible
Hannah
In the book of 1 Samuel chapter 1 we read about the story of Hannah, she was greatly troubled and sought the Lord for a child.
“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “ Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11
From this verse of the Bible we saw that Hannah had total reliance on God, there was no other option. There was nowhere else to get help but from God. She also made a vow to support her request.
In verse 18 we saw that her face was no longer downcast because she trusted that God had answered her prayers. She had an inner peace that was anticipating a miracle.
Yes! God did it!
“So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” 1 Samuel 1:20
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. (Verse 27)
Are you trusting God for something that is bothering your heart? Like he did to Hannah, God will settle your case.
David
In the book of 1 Samuel chapter 30 we read of how the Amalekites invaded Ziklag, they destroyed it and took away their wives and children.
“When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So, David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.” (1 Samuel 30:1-4)
There are situations that causes even men to weep! But David strengthened himself in the Lord amidst criticism from other men as seen in verse 6.
In that state of confusion and chaos you find yourself: Strengthen yourself in the Lord.
“David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”
David then took an important step, to inquire from the Lord. It is very vital to seek God the face of God in all endeavours. If he is leading us, success is inevitable.
And David inquired of the Lord , “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” (Verse 8)
A word from the Lord validates a testimony! It doesn’t matter how long it takes, it will happen.
And Yes God did it! (Verse 18-19)
David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.
Have you lost anything in the course of your life (opportunity, time, resources etc.) Like David recovered, you will recover them all in Jesus name.
In 1 Chronicles 4:9 The Bible recorded that Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”
In verse 10, we saw how Jabez called out to God for blessings and again God answered him.
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (Verse 10)
Are you seeking for a change in status, have you been labelled with a wrong name or are you seeking blessings from God, ask him like Jabez did! He will do it.
In Matthew 7:7 the Bible says we should ask and it shall be given unto us
Examples Of The Power Of Prayer In The Bible
With Elijah, prayer “avails much.” James 5:16-18. The word “avail” is central to this text. To pray is not a waste of time for us. The power of our prayers “makes much available.” I did not say to Jacob’s descendants, “Seek Me in vain,” as it is written in Isaiah 45:19.
It is Moses who makes the plea that diverts God’s wrath from the Israelites. God’s will can be altered by prayer. Specifically: Exodus 32:7-14
Hezekiah: Third, God granted Hezekiah’s request to lengthen his life. The verses 1–5 of Isaiah. God saw his “tears” and heard his prayer. When we cry out to Him in prayer, He sees our tears. Let this serve as a call to prayer. Psalm 56:8.
Fourth, Peter’s release from jail was the result of prayers offered at a prayer meeting. Acts 12:1-16. When we pray, God already has an answer in mind and is working on it. This should serve as motivation to attend the prayer meeting.
What Does Jesus Say About Prayer In The Bible
The Lord Jesus Christ devoted considerable time to teaching his disciples about the power of prayer. He suggested they pray together. The Lord’s Prayer was something he instructed them in. In order to teach them the importance of prayer, he used parables. One of the most crucial skills a Christ-follower can acquire is the ability to pray. The first and foremost mandate is a love for God, which is expressed primarily through supplication.
It is in Matthew 6:5-15 that Jesus gives his most comprehensive instruction on prayer.
First, Jesus emphasized that our prayers are not for the benefit of onlookers but rather are directed toward God (Matthew 6:5-6).
Then he cautioned his followers about praying in vain (Matthew 6:7-8). Definition of “vague phrases” Well, by examining our own usage of the Lord’s Prayer, we can get a sense of what he meant. It’s safe to assume that the Lord’s Prayer is the most frequently recited Christian prayer, but because it’s so common, it’s easy to recite the words without giving any thought to their meaning. If we aren’t careful, the words of Jesus’ own prayer will become the empty ones he warned us to avoid.
An idea occurs to me. Like our conversations with those we love and who love us, our conversations with God should not be empty.
Let us now consider the Lord’s Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9–13 and also in Luke 11:1-4.
In my opinion, the first part of the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most crucial and often-overlooked parts of Jesus’ teachings. His suggested prayer to God the Father is as follows.
Pray that people will always hold you in high regard and honor. (For more on this, see note 1 below.)
We pray that your kingdom will soon be established.
God, I pray that your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Is it true that we recite these invocations? Do our prayers come from a sincere place? How seriously do we hope for the coming of God’s kingdom? Do we beg God that his will be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven? What would the world be like if these prayers were actually heard by God? While it’s possible that God will wait until Jesus returns to answer these prayers in full, I believe he is doing so right now. Whether or not I’m correct, the world desperately needs the prayers I’ve listed above to be answered, so we must keep praying them.
The remaining parts of the Lord’s Prayer focus on asking for help in specific situations. In his teachings, Jesus prioritizes God’s will above our own.
Two of Luke’s passages stress Jesus’s teaching that his followers should pray continually. Jesus tells the parable of the midnight neighbor who wakes up to borrow some bread (Luke 11:5-13). Jesus tells a parable about a widow who goes to court to demand justice (Luke 18:1-8). Throughout these verses, Jesus emphasizes the importance of persevering in prayer.
Among the most controversial things Jesus ever said was that his followers would be granted their every wish if they prayed for it (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:23-24; Luke 11:9-10; John 15:7). Furthermore, Jesus promised that his followers would receive whatever they asked for when they asked in his name (Matthew 18:19). (John 14:13-14; John 16:23-24). Many of us have been let down when we have tried praying in accordance with what we take these verses to say. A couple of hints might be useful in this case, I believe.
To begin, Jesus is addressing his adherents. Those who follow Jesus are dedicated to obeying his teachings, and it is they who will be blessed. In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes this point crystal clear.
To paraphrase Jesus Christ: “Ask and it shall be given you, if you continue to believe in me and my words remain in you. That you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be my disciples, is to the glory of my Father (John 15:7-8).
Next, consider the phrase “in his name,” as it contains the second piece of information. Doing something “in the name of” another person indicates that we are following their directives. Therefore, the words “in Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer do not give us carte blanche to ask for whatever we want. They guarantee that if our requests are in line with Jesus’ will, we will receive them. (See note 2 below for a link to a great article on this subject.)
So, in Jesus’ name, what do we ask for? How can we know if the things we pray for are in line with what Jesus wants for us? The answer is straightforward: we ask for what he has specifically stated he wants for us in his prayers. Everything he told us to ask for in the Lord’s prayer, as well as everything he commanded us to do, such as love God, love others, stop judging others, and forgive others, falls under this category. As a result, if I sincerely ask God to help me love Him and others more and to stop judging them, He will grant my request. It’s possible I won’t notice a difference right away, but I know it’s coming.
Keep in mind that Jesus commanded his followers to pray for those who persecuted them:
To be true children of God, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” [Matthew 5:44–45]
Pray for those who hurt you and bless those who curse you. (Luke 6:28)
In my own life, I have found that God always grants my requests when I ask for what I am sure he wants me to have, even if the manifestation of my request takes some time. A good illustration of this is the fact that God is still answering my prayer from many years ago that I would love him more. Since I was around ten years old, I’ve known that the first and greatest commandment is to love God. However, it wasn’t until I spent years praying for God to increase my love for him that I finally knew I loved him and could finally tell him so.
We must, then, never stop praying and never give up hope. Keep in mind that God is a good parent who provides for his children (Luke 11:11-13), but that children aren’t always the best judges of what’s best for them.
Continual fervent prayer is essential. We need to get on our knees and pray. The human community as a whole, not just individuals, families, or nations, may need to pray more than usual during these trying times. In light of the coming tribulations, Jesus urged his disciples to pray:
As Jesus warned, “Be on your guard at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will occur and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)