Do we really believe in prayer?

We live in a time of immense grief, little tolerance and no patience. Do we trust that God will answer our prayers like He did for the people in the Bible? Do we give Him a chance?

Social media is filled with people demanding action. They are saying that prayer isn't enough, that it won't solve anything. For those that are in that mind-set I would like you to remember a few of the many examples we have from the Bible:

Daniel Six: Daniel prayed for safety from the lions: he was saved.

1 Kings 17: Elijah prayed over a dead child: the child came back to life.

Mathew 14: Jesus prays over seven loaves and five fish: feeds 5,000 with 12 baskets left over.

Acts 12: Peter is in jail surrounded by more guards than necessary: Walks out the front door, free.

We limit God. We ask Him for help, then we either stop asking after a short time or we try to fix the problem ourselves. We might feel like our prayers are falling on deaf ears and we stop asking God for help. I am sure that is how Daniel felt in Daniel 10 when we learn of the archangel Michael. Daniel prays to know how to better help his people and he prays for days on end with no response.Then the archangel Michael arrives after battling Satan's army. Daniel is told that his consistent prayers is what gave Michael the strength to fight through the darkness. This is just one example of the power of prayer.

It can be so simple to pray out of habit without thinking about what is being asked. In the same way it is so easy to fall into the habits of this world and join the commotion of the problem. As Christians, we are to seek first the kingdom of God.

Christ is very clear that this isn't His world, but if we want to navigate it well shouldn't we do it as He did? Jesus spent entire days, evenings, and nights in constant prayer. And the benefits of such a connection are evident in the works of Christ. He encourages us to do the same, to seek God every day, to seek to make a positive difference in the world as a whole or the precious life of a person. All throughout the Bible we see examples of men and women deeply praying and waiting for God to answer their prayers. I am not saying that sitting in your comfortable life praying will solve the problems of this world. I do know that the best things in life come to fruition with the guidance of the Lord. 1 Chronicles chapter five tells us that God's people cried for His help while in battle and He helped because they trusted Him.

I believe that if we the people actively prayed and waited for God's hand to lead us we could know peace. The God I serve can part seas, tame lions, heal the sick, raise the dead, and answer prayers. Whether you are #praying for a person, city, state, race, or nation, pray without ceasing and wait for God to answer.