The power of prayer.

Prayer has power. How?

I remember a pastor talking about prayer this way: It’s like putting your four-year-old on your lap as you drive the car in an empty parking lot. At some point you can let the child steer the car, but they are too young and too short to control the gas or know when to apply pressure to the brakes. They have the privilege to turn the wheel to the left or to the right. They can enjoy [safely] this feeling of being able to propel a 4000-pound vehicle around this empty parking lot. That’s power. 

But at the end of the day, the dad has the final control. His foot will hit the brake when needed. He accelerates and lets off the gas at appropriate times. Yet, with their dad’s special guidance and control, the child’s hands can steer the car and experience an element of control; they feel real power.

In a similar way, God has given each believer the opportunity to sit on their heavenly Father’s lap and persuade certain events to move in one direction or another. That’s power. 

James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Within the limits of his plans, the Father allows his kids to lead to the left or incline to the right. But the brake pedal feels his firm foot at just the right time. And he adds gas or slows things down according to what he knows to be appropriate. The final say that keeps this vehicle within safety limits still rests in the hands of a loving heavenly Father.

God guarantees power to his kids. In Sunday worship we will be examining John 15:7-8 to glean some important truths about why prayer is powerful and how it is that we get to sit in a place of influence. Please take some time this week to pray for our church, to pray for our nation, to pray for our leaders, and to pray for our families. Put your hands on the wheel of the most powerful vehicle history has ever known - it’s your Father’s Kingdom plan. And he is letting you steer.

May you be blessed this week as you contemplate that.

Peace!
Pastor Al