Smith
Wigglesworth was a great preacher. But before he was a preacher, he was a
plumber who wasn’t a Christian—nor a very nice man.
Fortunately
for him, he had a godly wife.
He
didn’t want her to go to church, but she went anyway. When she did, he’d lock
her out of the house, and when she came home, she’d have to sleep on the back
porch. In the morning he’d unlock the door and she’d come in and say, “Good
morning, Smithy!” and make him breakfast.
She
was a godly example for him. She prayed for him and God gave her the grace to
be good to him in spite of his rude behavior. And because she continued to be
so good to him, he eventually came to know the Lord and was radically changed.
As a result, he became one of the greatest preachers who ever lived.
That’s
the power of prayer.
Understand What Prayer Really Is
Prayer
is simply conversation with God. It’s asking Him to meet your need or someone
else’s. It’s praising Him and thanking Him. It’s about committing things to Him
and consecrating things to Him. We need to pray about everything and anything.
I
think some people don’t pray much because they don’t understand how powerful
prayer really is. The truth is it’s one of the greatest privileges we have as
Christians.
“
When we pray, we open the door for God to come into our problems and situations
and work on them.”
When
we pray, we open the door for God to come into our problems and situations and
work on them. Prayer makes us partners with God. And while we can’t really
change people and make them love God, He can minister to their hearts and reach
them.
I
also believe that prayer is easier than we think it is. And it can be so much a
part of our life that we don’t even realize how much we pray – like breathing.
What Makes Prayer So Powerful?
The
Bible teaches us in James 5:16 that “the earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer
of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”
Prayer is passionate. It’s about sincerity of heart and putting your whole
heart into it.
Prayer
doesn’t have to be eloquent or long. And prayer isn’t better if it’s
loud or if you’re on your knees, folding your hands or bowing your head. It’s
good to humble yourself, but it’s not your posture or how long you pray that
makes it effective.
I
remember a time when God challenged me to ask for what I wanted and needed in
the least amount of words possible. This was hard at first. For example, when
we do something wrong, it’s hard just to say, “God, I know that was wrong and I
admit it. I ask You to forgive me. Thank You, Lord. Amen.”
Instead,
it’s common to hear something like this, “Oh, God! I need You to forgive me.
God, forgive me. Please, God, forgive me. Oh God, You’ve got to forgive me!
Please, God…I promise not to do it again.”
Hebrews
11:6 says that faith pleases God, and if we believe He exists and
seek Him, He will reward us. We don’t have to beg and plead with Him to help
us. God is a good God! He loves you and wants what is best for you.
Spend
time with God. Talk to Him sincerely and honestly. Cast
your cares on Him. Then find out what He wants to do and then follow
His lead.
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