There is nothing more underestimated than the power of prayer

The awareness

I grew up in the catholic faith, from the time I was born and baptised. I attended Sunday mass, catechism and all the holy days of the year. Never missing a Sunday mass and without fail until the age of sixteen. What it gave me was a tremendous sense of belonging to a larger world family. We spoke the same language understood all the rituals on entering through those large wooden doors. Dipping our finger into the holy water and making the sign of the cross on our foreheads. The lace veil pinned to my long hair, the old worn out hymn books slotted behind a panel of wood in the front of lined wooden benches. The silence and reverence as we entered and bent our knee at the bench. The large colorful stained glass windows bearing down on us, filling the church with a haze of early morning sun beams. Jesus hanging on a large cross above the alter, his blood frozen to his skin, pale in the early morning beams of light. The priest in his layers of robes quietly gliding from the alter to the chapel to prepare the mornings bread and wine. I would sit quietly observing, the dark wooden beams overhead the statues in the corners while soaking up the smells and quiet scuffles of feet and whispers of families entering.

I knew we were to enter and kneel and pray in silence until the service started, but no one had taught me how to pray. My prayers were simple and when needed and not very often or even at all. I knew God was there no one had to have that conversation with me or try and convince me. That would have been like trying to tell me there was a sun in the sky. My faith was based on reverence obedience more than a relationship. He was my father I was his child and children did as they were told or else, I was a child of the sixties.

Baby Steps

I was seventeen when I first saw how to pray and even then it took years to understand the importance of prayer. Once I had the steering wheel in my hands and my drivers licence to the world of prayer I bombarded God. I aimed my prayers at the protection of my family, without really realising the absolute importance of those prayers in the bigger scheme of things.

I was really only settling into my middle ages when I saw the truth of the spiritual battles we face daily. The spiritual battle that had silently been ragging down the corridors of time in my family from generation to generation. I was like that boy with his finger the dyke keeping the water out. Still not fully understanding the power of my prayers. I began to expand my prayer life once I understood it power and the reach it had into my life and those I prayed for. Some of my prayers were not answered in ways I thought I wanted them to be answered. Like a demanding petulant child I became angry and disappointed at not getting what I wanted. Only to realise over time that God had given me far more than I had hoped for.

The power

If someone told you that you could have the power to change someone’s life, would you be interested.? Prayer is the single most powerful thing we can do in human form. Change, protect, guide influence the lives of others and you don’t even have to be in the same country as that person you are praying for.

There are things that you don’t know about happening in the spiritual realm all the time. Things that only God knows is coming your way. Wouldn’t it be wise to pray and ask God for protection against the bad things heading in your direction. Years ago I worked for someone that was very difficult, this person had personality challenges that upset the workers. Every single day before entering the office I would pray for protection every single day. I believe God protected me because I was not as affected by the emotional abuse as other workers had been.

I have prayed for God to walk ahead of me in situations where I was concerned about the outcomes. I have prayed for my children, my family, my home, pets, work and every aspect of my life. I have prayed for work and finances and for direction and for God to open doors. I have thanked God over and over again for grace and abundance and all the things I have. Prayed for travel protection and guidance.

The biblical command

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing give thanks in ALL circumstances for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you.