The Power of Prayer!

James 5:16 “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (KJV)

On this day in 1836, English minister and philanthropist George Mueller opened his famous orphanage on Wilson Street in Bristol. (By 1875, Mueller's orphanage was providing care for over 2,000 children.) George Mueller was an amazing man of prayer. For many years, he prayed in the daily (yes, day-by-day) needs of the children!

In the opening paragraph of his biography of Dr. Mueller, Roger Martin quotes Mueller as frequently saying, “Prayer can do anything that God can do, and God can do anything!” Indeed, when Dr. Mueller said that, he was just summarizing James 5:16!

Prayer can do anything God can do, because prayer is simply asking God to act! And the God Whom we beseech to act is a God Who can do anything! We do not always ask God to act according to His will, so He does not always answer just as we desire – but He does always answer each and every prayer.

Sometimes, God answers our prayers directly! We ask according to His will, and He responds by doing exactly what we ask.

Sometimes, God answers our prayers differently! He knows what is best and what His will is. By the way, His will is always what is best for His children. He still answers, but in a way that is different from what we desire and ask.

Sometimes, God’s answer is to delay! His will may be, “OK, but not now.” We almost never like that, but we bow before His sovereignty and wait for His answer.

Sometimes, God answers with a denial! Because He knows best and always wants what is best for us, when we ask for that which is out of His will or will ultimately prove to be a bad thing for us – He denies our request.

Beloved Ones, do not be afraid to pray! If we are praying out of the will of God, He will correct our prayers. He will not give us something to hurt us, just because we asked Him for it. He loves us, and He loves to answer prayer!

Prayer: “Father, we rejoice in the truth that You are a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. We rejoice that Your answer will always be in accordance with Your will and it will be what is best for us. Amen.”

Application: A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian!