What Good Do My Prayers Do, Anyway?

 

I thank the Lord that my prayers ARE fervent and effective and so are yours!  Hallelujah!

“….The effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16 KJV

While reading through a social media post the other morning, I realized suddenly, that my prayers are not without effect – even when I cannot see the effects they bring.

Mine is not the place to make decisions for others, but to pray God’s perfect will over their lives.

I can do that.

We’re all given free will, which at some point, we begin to exercise for ourselves. This includes our grown children, our friends and neighbors, our parents; all our relatives and loved ones. And yes, even the dictator in a foreign land.

What a sneaky ploy of the enemy to try to convince us that our prayers have no effect!

It’s a lie.

Satan speaks to what we can see with our carnal eyes, the eyes we see the world through – the eyes that look at circumstances instead of looking at what God has to say about it. And God – will always have the final word!

Hallelujah!

What an effective way to get someone to stop doing something: to convince them that it’s not doing any good at all.

What a cunning lie to plant in the mind of God’s people: to get them to focus on circumstances that seem frustrating at best.

All the while – God is at work on the hearts of our loved ones.

Guess where we were when God found us? Yes! In sin! Is there any doubt that that’s exactly where He’ll find our loved ones? (Romas 5:8)

Do not relent. Your prayers ARE fervent and effective!

“….The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16 NIV

Some may call into question my righteousness, or their own. But remember, we’re not righteous in and of ourselves, we’re MADE righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21) So don’t let Satan twist that lie into your brain. Your prayers ARE effective and powerful because you ARE righteous! Jesus did that for you! When you asked Him to forgive your sin and to live in your heart – God made you the righteousness of Christ. You put on HIS righteousness.

Keep praying. And when you pray, listen for God’s direction.

He knows better than we do where the wounds are in our loved one’s hearts. He knows better than we do what will soften their hearts and open their spiritual eyes and ears. And He knows what blanket of lies they’re comfortable beneath, and fully able to rip it off of them.

By His GOODNESS He draws us to repentance. (Romans 2:4) With His great love, mercy and compassion, He holds us all in HIS heart.

Yes, the people we’re praying for get to choose for themselves. And yes, that can look scary sometimes.

But the “odds” are stacked against the enemy. He’s a defeated foe. He was conquered right along with death, hell and the grave long before Jesus even walked the road to the Cross, way back when the Trinity came up with the plan! On that Cross – Jesus suffered and died to provide for our redemption. His work is not in vain.

Have faith, my friend. For without it, it’s impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

We don’t need to fight Satan; Jesus took on that job.

We’re to fight the good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)

And believe me, Satan will attack you on every front he finds available in attempt to steal that faith from you. BUT GOD gave you that faith. Hang on to it. Endure to the end.

You’ve still got it! Don’t rely on circumstances to be your measuring stick for successful prayer. Rely on the Word of God.

Yes, your prayers ARE fervent AND effective! Hallelujah!

“….The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” – James 5:16 NLT