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“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:7-8 NKJV
The relevance and significance of prayer in the life of believers cannot be overemphasized. The efficacy of prayer is declining today, not because we are not praying more but because we are mostly praying amiss or wrongly.
The Scripture reveals that we often pray amiss or wrongly when we pray and don’t receive. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (Jam. 4:3 NKJV).
But why do we often pray amiss or wrongly?
It is because we don’t know the Scriptures! Jesus says, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” (Matt. 22:29 NLT).
Many unscriptural beliefs, human traditions, doctrines, misconceptions, and assumptions about prayer that we have imbibed and embraced are why we pray amiss today.
This piece will contrast scriptural truths about prayer with general misconceptions and beliefs about prayer.
First, the Believer’s Spiritual Power or Authority is not proportional to their Prayer Life.
Today, it is generally believed and often said that “A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.” This statement presupposes that prayer is the source of the believer’s spiritual power or authority and that the believer’s power or authority is proportional to his prayer life.
As a result of this wrong but long-held belief, many believers today determine or measure their spiritual power or authority by the duration, volume, fervency, or frequency of their prayers.
What a mistaken belief!
While the Scripture teaches that prayer makes tremendous power available and dynamic in its working (Jam. 5:16), it teaches that God’s immense power is available within the believers by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians. 1:19, Acts 1:8).
Determining your spiritual power or authority by your prayer life demonstrates your faith in yourself (works) and not in Jesus Christ (grace). When your spiritual authority depends on your prayers’ duration, volume, fervency, or frequency, you will not be able to wield your spiritual power over the devil when you are too weak to pray as loud and long as you used to.
What is the source of the believers’ spiritual power or authority?
Spiritual union with the Lord Jesus Christ!
The spiritual power or authority of the believers is derived from their spiritual union with Jesus Christ and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in them.
Your spiritual authority as a believer is rooted in or dependent upon your relationship, spiritual union, or identity with Jesus Christ, not your ability to pray long, loud, fervently, or frequently (Ephesians. 2:4-6, 1 Cor. 6:17, Luke. 10:19). Therefore, being more prayerful (praying longer, louder, more fervently, or frequently) than others does not increase your spiritual power or authority in Christ.
Second, the Efficacy of Prayer is not based on its Volume, Duration, Loudness, Repetition, or Frequency.
The efficacy of your prayer has nothing to do with the loudness or volume of your voice, the length or duration of your prayer, the frequency of your prayer, your emotion, gesticulation, position, or posture while praying, or the location where you pray.
The Scripture is replete with outstanding results produced by short prayers of faith (John 11:42-44, Luke. 7:11-15, Acts 9:38-41).
Praying very loud and long, praying at a specific time or place, positioning yourself in a certain way while praying, or repeating the exact words several times don’t guarantee answers to your prayers. Similarly, praying particularly violently or aggressively is no guarantee that your prayers will be answered.
The Lord Jesus warns against the use of vain repetitions in prayer.
Matthew 6:7-8 – NKJV
7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Third, the Power of Prayer is not proportional to the Population of the People praying.
It is a fallacy to think that the efficacy of prayer is enhanced by an increase in the size or number of believers praying on the same issue at the same time or place. The power of prayer does not automatically increase with the population of prayer warriors assembled to pray on the same issue at the same time or place.
The Scripture clearly states, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (Jam. 5:16b NLT).
Beloved, while there is a place for a prayer of agreement, the Scripture never said that the power of prayer is relatively proportional to the size or number of people praying.
God cannot be subtly impressed, influenced, manipulated, coerced, or compelled to answer prayers by many people or voices saying the same thing at the same time at the same place. God does not answer prayers based on sentiments. With God, it is not the majority that carries the vote. God is not moved by mere numbers (1 Sam. 14:6).
Discover more misconceptions about prayer in the second part of this piece!
Prayer:
Today, I renounce all my long-held wrong beliefs and traditions about prayer. I embrace scriptural truths about prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our mandates is to preserve the faith of Apostolic Generation.
Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.
AWH, Blogs.
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