What empowers Prayer?

What do we think about prayer? Is it rather something for daydreamers? Thus, in accordance with the motto “Why bother as it doesn't help”, or is it just an unnecessary “evil” which God expects of us? The last resort when all other efforts have failed? Or is it an expression of advanced Christianity for the especially holy? If we ask ourselves earnestly: Does God ALWAYS hear us? And when not, when or how? What is prayer? It is speaking to God in order to tell Him something important, to sincerely thank HIM, praise HIM and show our appreciation for HIS mercy in our lives – daily. In prayer we can stand in for others = love towards others, we can pray for ourselves = self-love! Whoever loves another, also loves himself (Ephesians 5:28). We pray to experience intimate spiritual fellowship with God in the most utmost personal manner. Also to experience intimate spiritual fellowship with other Christians. This is possible when we pray together. Some things are possible only through prayer (as opposed to: “...now only prayer will help...”). The prayer time and the personal prayer is the life-breath of every Christian. And you know, who can't breathe, chokes! The prayer is THE aspect of our personal relationship with God. Unfortunately, also that aspect which is least comprehended and understood. Therefore we often have a puny prayer life, and a puny Christian life. In Matthew 6:7 we read: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” This means, we are NOT in parliament and God is not ignorant; apart from that we also don't have to go to great lengths to explain something to Him, He really does understand us.

In Romans 8:26-27 we read: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” We don't know how to pray correctly! The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us! He completes our weak prayer. God knows it, in other words my prayer is only a reminder and confirmation to God of those things which are important to me! In this manner we should pray for these things. The purpose of our prayer should be pre-filtered in accordance with the Lord Jesus Christ's criteria, as received by His and our eternal Father. We should first measure everything we want to pray about against this criteria and only if the same outcome will be accomplished should we pray about it and thus have confidence that we will have a good result when we pray in His Name. In His Name means, in His authority and in accordance with His high eternal will. It concerns God's Kingdom, His power and His glory. God retains the right, He retains the power and glory eternally. Him should, must and may all serve, the one with joy, the other bows unwillingly, but they bow nonetheless. Christians have NO alternative view. And also that is through mercy and not constraint, because where the Spirit is there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Roland Schaufler