Driving past a famous red light district in Holland from work, I came across a group of young female prayer activists who were in serious incantatory mood, muttering words diphthongal to the ears but with seeming potency, speaking in tongues, to be precise. Judging their stance, I believe they were making a claim on God’s mighty power, perhaps, to deliver those beautiful ladies who were practicing their trade in caged glassy cubicles from the clutches of the supposedly demons of prostitution.
I was touched by their courageous act of selfless devotion to pray for others though my heart dipped into despair over the intentions of the young girls because, much as I support their course, I have my doubt about the efficacy of their prayers. It isn’t about the worry that a believer might point a finger at me and say “o’ ye man of little faith” or that God is not able, but because the stringent requirement for an effective prayer I suppose may be lacking.
Making a case to God to change someone’s path of destiny, in this regard, choices people have made for themselves is by no means as simple as shouting some few words into the air and that is it. Even though unsavoury, prostitution is not a latter day profession. Proverbs 16:4 says “The Lord made all things for His own purpose, even the wicked for a day of trouble”. A few prostitutes of mention, according to the bible were not subjected to exorcism but surprisingly, their standing as prostitutes availed them to the service of God. Examples are Rahab, Joshua 2:1; Gomer, Hosea 1:3; Jephthah’s mother, Judges 11:1.
Having been a prayer secretary of my school scripture union during my fifth form and thereafter, being a participant and witness to countless prayer sessions in churches, all-night services and conventions of believers where outpouring of prayers have been unimaginably electrifying, the yelling and the near crying of the congregants, sometimes interrupted by inspiring prophesies, emotionally compelling as they seem, usually end in futility.
The worrying part of such prayer session encounters is the loud noise made by self-proclaimed `prayer ninjas or warriors’ among a madding prayer intercessors, purporting to cast out demons and witches where there isn’t any to arrest, and the false assurances of prosperity and personal lives’ enhancement whilst extorting the congregants of their widowers might. Indeed, reality cannot be adorned by pretences, and truth as is said, has a tail.
When prayers go unanswered, frustration caused can be very deep. Many seem to have taken God for granted in a sense that God hangs up there, and His sole business is solving problems and sending down miracles. That was the mind-set of the Israelites at Taberah for which some paid dearly with their lives, Numbers 11.
Is there any difference between a people who pray and those who don’t? Do prayers actually work? Does prayer effect positive changes in people’s lives? How important is prayer in these modern times? Scripture in 2chronicles 7:14 states that, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sins, and will heal their land”.
Prayer is what separate believers of God from non-believers. The model prayer given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:5-13 stands out distinctively for best practice. In verses 5&6, we are thought not to showcase our prayer in public. Verses 7&8 teach us to remain focused and not be repetitive on our plea. Verse 9 teaches us to acknowledge God and to sanctify (bless) His name to start with. Verse 10&11 teaches us to accept whatever God decide for us even as we confess our daily needs before Him. Verse 12 is the most crucial; we make a bond to God to treat us the same way as we treat our neighbours. Finally, verse 13 teaches us to ask for God’s protection.
The two most important conditions required of prayer is the clearance of doubts in the mind about God’s ability to meet your needs and secondly, having to forgive any person who may have offended you in anyway and unconditionally. Repetition of same prayer as if God is not hearing, should be avoided.
Scripture says that God knows your problems even before you ask, that is not to say you don’t have to pray. It means you must be modest with your prayer and to not be over anxious. It is also very unnecessary and risky to attempt to play God by rebuking demons or putting God’s power on trial by confronting the devil at its own backyard especially when unprovoked, or when one is not ordained by God to do so. St Paul rightly reminds us at Ephesians 6:12 that “…we fight not against flesh and blood…”
Therefore, spiritual warfare must be set aside to be contended with at a spiritual level by an informed spiritual master. Our posture at prayer must be one of sombre mood, humbled and remorseful, and not as someone instructing his peers. The tone of prayer mustn’t also be one of command but reverence. Scripture reveals that, Jesus sometimes wept when He prayed. The manner of prayer is defined by the following two verses; Psalm 34:1 says “I will bless the lord at all times: His praises shall continually be in my mouth.” Philippians 4:6 states, “Do not be anxious about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Jesus Christ”.
Prayer works by a principle of two-way traffic, the measure that you give for a good course is the same that you get back. When you serve others, you would also be served. When you forgive others, you would also be forgiven. God is ever ready to restore to us the cost we have had to bear in order to project his name and glory, and also for others. As stated in Proverbs 19:17, “he who is gracious to the poor lends unto the lord and He will repay him for his good deeds”.
Scripture reveals in James 5:16, that the prayer of a righteous man is very potent. It is also said in Matthew 7:7, that ‘Ask and it shall be given; seek, and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. In John 14:13-14, it is written, “And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the father may be glorified in the son. Contrarily, James 4:3, states that, prayers don’t get answered when we pray with wrong motives. In the book of Isaiah 59:1-2, it is said that, “the Lords arm is neither too short to save, nor His ears too dull to hear, but sin have mounted a barrier between God and us so that He doesn’t see nor hear us when we pray”.
So, all being equal and under the right conditions as stated, prayer must produce results. All said though, sometimes even having met all these conditions, one’s expectations of prayer can be put on hold indefinitely or delayed. Such instances could mean that God may be putting the believer’s faith on trial, as forewarned in Exodus 20:20 or rerouting the request to await a greater opportunity than expecting. It may also be possible that God wants to wean you out of ignorance, by signalling you to seek practical solutions which may be within your reach.
Modern attitudes and lifestyles of society, together with the unlimited freedoms and rights it grave for, may also be an obstacle to our prayers. Example is the disrespect for the elderly, Leviticus 19:32, our excessive graving for materialism and disregard for many of Gods laws which we have replaced with our own (legalising homosexuality) among others. Otherwise, communing with God daily can be very comforting, self-healing, self-assuring and spiritually uplifting.
May the peace and love of God which surpasses all understanding be with us. Amen
Thomas Twum.