Romans 15:30-33

Paul believed in prayer; I do too. First, I believe prayer is communication with our heavenly father. Prayer builds our relationship with God. Prayer is also a means by which God intends for us to release his power of creativity and healing into the world. When our prayers align with God’s will, His spirit moves upon the earth.  Through prayer, we can share in the work of our fellow Christians. Prayer is not magic, and it does not put a handle upon God. Prayer is not a way for us to manipulate or dictate the actions of God and the Holy Spirit. Prayer allows us to share with, and work with God and our fellow Christians.

Prayer is important, but time is limited.  We cannot pray for everyone, or everything.  There was a politician that I considered evil.  My mother told me I should pray for him.  Jokingly, I told her there were three billion people in the world, which meant there were 2,999,999,999 people ahead of him on my prayer list. Paul understood the pressures of time, therefore he urged his brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for two things, his deliverance from those wishing to kill him, and that the church in Jerusalem would favorably receive the gift he was bringing them.

The book of Acts records the many different ways God delivered Paul from the schemes of those who wanted to kill him. When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, 40 men took a vow; they would not eat until they had killed him. Either they ended up breaking their vow, or they starved to death. Acts also tells about how the church was grateful for the offering he brought, and received it with favor. People talk about the power of prayer, but Paul was saved by the power of God. Prayer makes a difference not because it is powerful, but because the God we pray to is powerful. However, even though the power of prayer is God’s, He tells us that the responsibility is ours.