When our country entered the fray of those affected by the novel coronavirus in early 2020, not many people were concerned at first. But, as cases grew, some of us started stocking up in anticipation of an unknown future. We also spent time in prayer, or information gathering. Our ambivalence was quickly replaced by anxiety. Many people needed help and relief from the anxiety and fear. In fact, some of us lost sleep or broke down over the stress. Clearly, the thought of a world-wide pandemic was frightening. (updated March 2022)
However, a single thought overcame the anxiety. When fear attempts to get the better of us, we have one solid place to land. Maybe, like me, you felt it too. God called his people to pray.
Specifically, God reminded me of the importance of continuous prayer from believers. So, with this post, I want to remind all of us some of what God’s word says about prayer and its effectiveness.
With practice we can:
Trade anxiety for scripture filled prayer & move mountains.
From personal experience, I know that through prayer we can cast off anxiety and choose to trust God, but to do it we need to sharpen our prayer weapons with scripture.
To move mountains we need the power of the word of God.
1. First and foremost then, replace anxiety, uncertainty, and fear with actual scripture.
God’s words are filled with strength, so when we pray his words, doubt and fear are replaced with peace and perseverance.
Gods’ word dispels anxiety because it is truth, it is powerful, and he tells us it is productive.
Isaiah 55:11 My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.
(New King James Version)
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
We can be assured with this scripture that his word will not be empty, it will accomplish things. God’s word produces results.
If you pray or have prayed at any time over the current state of the world or time of crisis, even a simple, “God help us,” you are part of the war. When you raised the weapon of prayer, you became a warrior.
If you then pray the word of God, your weapon of prayer becomes more powerful.
When you and I pray and speak with God, we come to the giver of every good and perfect gift. He has plans not to harm us, but to give us hope and a future. These are his words.
Jeremiah 29:11,12 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.…
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
We can add those scriptures to our prayer life. As we thank God for every good and perfect gift and ask for his plan, we can also thank him for the future he has for us. With confidence, thank God for hope. Expect hope, and look for it.
2. God also tells us to pray without ceasing. Our “when to pray” is always.
We can pray for healings, mercy and God’s guiding hand. Better, when we pray his words.
I love this description of prayer below from allaboutprayer.org.
“… prayer is about cooperating with God and abandoning our desires and submitting to God’s will. In fact, Matthew 6:8 says, ‘… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” https://www.allaboutprayer.org/corporate-prayer.htm
3. At the same time, when we pray, our mindset, attitude, and goals are important.
When we pray, instead of anxiety, we are choosing God’s plan, God’s loving ways, and God’s will.
In prayer, we must come with thankfulness, humility, & forgiveness.
For example, Philippians 4:6, we find scripture that tells us to pray with an attitude of thankfulness.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Our prayers should also bring us closer to the humble spirit God has called us to. Any prayer should be established in humility.
2 Chronicles 7:14 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, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Finally, we are called to pray with forgiveness in our hearts, faith that God has our best interests at heart, and confidence in his word.
Mark 11:24,25 “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.” …
Let us forgive any sin against us, ask for forgiveness for any wrong doing on our part, and release any lingering hurt.
We choose to extend forgiveness, so that we can pray without selfish desires or sin in our lives.
4. Prayers prayed in agreement with others command a blessing.
Since we know unity commands a blessing (Psalm 133:1-3) then prayer with a unified purpose and goal will command a blessing.
“How Pleasant to Live in Harmony
1A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! 2It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard over the collar of his robes. 3It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD has bestowed the blessing of life forevermore.…” https://biblehub.com/psalms/133-2.htm
Prayer where we command illness or evil to be bound, rendered harmless and without affect in our families could change the outcome. I would pray then that harming children or the innocent is bound on earth and in heaven, that healing and new life is loosed in our homes.
Mathew 18:18,19 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.…
Write a prayer using scripture. Read it, pray it , share it. Replace your anxiety, fear , and doubt with scripture filled prayer and feel the power of hope fill your thoughts. Let God heal your mind with his words starting today.
Barefoot and praying,
Kim
you might also enjoy: Those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
You will also enjoy: Prayer is simple, even when the problem isn’t.
God is in control. “… we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…” Psalm 46:2
Prayer can move mountains.
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