It never fails these days to login to Facebook or Twitter and see a friend asking for prayer. When I was in my early 20s, I didn’t think about prayer as much as I do in my 50s. Shoot, back in the 70s, social media wasn't even around to ask! Every now and then I’d hear about a family member that was in the hospital, but that was about it. Now it’s two or three times a day reading about sickness and death.
If I were a non-believer in Christ, I’m not sure how I’d feel about people asking all the time about prayer. I can’t imagine thinking all my friends are just pitiful and wasting their time. Thankfully, I am a follower of Christ, and I do believe in the awesome power of prayer.
I learned about how to pray and how God reacts to it when I was a little boy. I grew up in a Pentecostal church and they would have prayer lines every other Sunday night. It’s where elders of the church and faithful people would stand in the front of the church, sometimes in one straight line or two, depending on how the preacher was feeling that night or how intense the need was.
If it was one line, you'd simply walk up close to the alter and tell the preacher what prayer you needed God to answer and he’d lay hands on your head or shoulder and send you down the line. Every person up there would talk out loud to God on your behalf. If it were two lines, watch out devil! There’s strength in numbers you know... The Holy Spirit would come down and you’d hear more people speaking in tongues, raising their hands and shoutin’. The preacher (John Carter) would send you down the middle of the parallel lines.
I mustered up the courage to go through what some call the “Fire Tunnel” a time or two when I was around 12-years old. It kind of felt like going through an 8-minute car wash. I remember getting pushed and bumped along the way. Each time I went through, it was different. I never knew how long it’d take to get to the other side. But once I did, I felt clean, like I’d been washed in the blood of Jesus.
Like the old hymn says, “There’s power in the blood.” God has the ability to turn a bad situation completely around. I’ve seen people healed...heck I‘ve been healed! I recall the time when mom prayed for me when I was a kid. I had sprained my arm roller skating, and within an hour of her praying, I was using my arm again with no pain.
It clearly states in the Bible God‘s power.
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” - James 5:14-15
“LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” - Psalm 30:2
I‘m sure you’ve seen the term, “prayer warrior”, right? Some just think that it’s someone who prays a lot or someone that’s close to God. However, I believe it’s something more. Intercessors prayer is fulfilling the need of praying for other people, while prayer warriors engage in a spiritual battle against Satan.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” - 1st Peter 5-8
You see, the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. So when you are going through a difficult situation like illness, heartbreak or despair... you‘re fighting the devil. That’s when you need to turn to prayer warriors. Those that understand the enemy. They understand that it might mean long hours on their knees praying in earnest for you and rebuking the devil that’s attacking you.
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” - Eph 6:12
I know it sounds scary, but we have powerful God. He has the authority to heal, soothe and to defeat the enemy in the twinkling of an eye. Turn to Him, read The Word and seek wisdom. Call on your brothers and sister, your prayer warriors and be steadfast in faith. God will hear you and answer. God will win the battle in the end. Praise His Holy Name!
“For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” - Luke 11:10
Brady Seals, author of God Blessed Texas & Me Too
