The Efficacy of Prayer

Brenden Ashby
12/17/23 - Sun AM

The Efficacy of Prayer

Brenden Ashby

James wrote in James 5:16 (CSB), “…The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” Have you ever given much thought to this phrase? What makes prayer powerful and effective? We want to briefly consider this question and offer three reasons prayer is powerful and effective.

The most important reason prayer is powerful and effective is because of the God we pray to! He knows our requests before we ask them (Matt. 6:8), He desires to give good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11), and He is infinitely able to answer our prayers (Eph. 3:20-21). Our God is able, which should give us confidence in approaching Him in prayer.

Another reason why prayer is powerful and effective is that when my will is to do God’s will, my prayers will be according to His will.  John tells us that “this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us” and “we know that we have the request which we have asked from Him” (1 Jn. 5:13-14). Think, when has God ever not done His will? Never! And so, if I am focused on doing God’s will, my prayers are answered!

A final reason why prayer is powerful and effective is my faith. We understand that faith is trust (cf. Heb. 11:1-3). When I trust my all-powerful God, trust in His ways, His provision, and His timing, my prayers are unhindered (Jas. 1:5-8).

The prayers of righteous persons offered in full faith, aligned with the will of God, and with the knowledge that we serve the all-loving, caring, powerful God of all that there is, are very powerful and effective.

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