Faith in Action: The Power of Sincere Prayer

Requests for people to pray for our friends in nearby states facing major storms were flooding social media. We, as a people, need to pray for others, especially for those facing significant difficulties or problems. However, each of us must remember that simply posting a prayer request on social media and actually praying to the King of Kings are two very different things.

Prayer is a time for communicating with the Almighty Holy God. It is a moment when we should pause mentally and enter into His presence with reverence. As small children, many of us were taught to close our eyes, bow our heads, and fold our hands when we prayed to avoid distractions. I often remind the children at church that prayer is not a time to play but to talk to Jesus. Interestingly, the kids seem to grasp this concept far better than we adults do. Adults, including myself, sometimes bow our heads and recite the words of prayer while simultaneously thinking about the next item on our agenda.

When Paul and Silas were praying and praising God in prison, their attention was entirely devoted to the Divine. They were not focused on the chains around their wrists or ankles, nor were they trying to figure a way out of their situation. The two men were simply and sincerely wrapped up in Jesus.

In the story of Hannah found in 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2, we learn that she was sincere and focused in her prayers. In 1 Samuel 1:10, we are told, "In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly." Shortly after that, the Scriptures tell us in verse 12, "...she kept on praying to the Lord." According to verse 19, "Early the next morning, they arose and worshiped," which would have included prayer. What a great example of a praying person! All of Hannah’s prayers were offered before there was any great response from God. She did not throw out a quick message to friends and neighbors to pray and then go her way. She prayed and was convinced that God not only heard her prayers but also cared for her, and that in time, He would do whatever needed to be done. That is called faith! Hannah had faith in her God.

We need to pray, and after we finish, we should start praying again. We should pray as storms approach, as they batter homes and lives, and months later when the storms seem to have passed, yet people still struggle.

Pray!