The Power of (Intercessory) Prayer

Yesterday, my grandmother and I found ourselves vexed over two situations that we had no direct control over, situations that, if we approached them the wrong way (read hastily and without prayer) would affect them negatively.  With the one I’d brought to her, I admitted my first reaction was to act in ‘my own power’, but later realized that would not be the best way to approach it.  And with hers, she was almost rendered speechless, so she, in her wisdom said, “Let’s pray.”  We prayed that we would have the right words, life giving and life changing words, to affect the people involved, if that’s God’s will in these situations.  And we prayed that they yield to God’s word in those situations, and trust in them, as opposed to their own devices.

Although a word form an overseer, shepard, or pastor may be comforting, but the authority that the everyday believer has according to 1 Peter 2:4, that refers to us as a holy priesthood, and Revelation 1:5, where we’re called royalty are valid as well. 

Better yet, we have authority through the great intercessor, Christ, who ‘…is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:25).  And because of that, we can ‘…approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16).  The prayers of a righteous person, or persons, are indeed powerful and effective (James 5:16). 

It’s the faith in God’s word that does it!  I love the account of the man in Matthew chapter eight who humbly declined Jesus’ offer to come to the man’s house and heal his servant.  Instead he replied, in faith, ‘…just say the word and servant will be healed’ (v.8).  ‘When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith” (v. 10) In verse 13 he tells the man, “…Go! It will be done just as you believed it would”.  And his servant was healed at that very hour.