Power of Prayer: There is Two Sides to Everything, Even Prayer! by: Bro. Taji Brown

Power of Prayer: There is two sides to everything, even prayer!

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:15- What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit and I will also pray with the understanding…

 In order to recognize the power of prayer, I believe it is essential for one to have an in-depth understanding of what prayer is at its core. Wikipedia sites prayer as “an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication.” It continues by saying that prayer “refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified ancestor.” I know that may have been a lot to digest, but let me break it down in simpler form.

 For starters, prayer is our primary communication tool, which can be used to have a conversation with our Heavenly Father and show gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prayer allows you an opportunity to fellowship with the Holy Spirit. During prayer we are able to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).” I can go on and on about what I have found prayer to be in my personal life and the power of prayer I have witnessed in believers’ lives. However, my assignment for this blog is clear. With the leading of the Holy Spirit, I strive to explain how you can have power in prayer when you pray in the Spirit and with an understanding.

 As Christians, we grow to appreciate building a relationship with the Holy Spirit. He is known as our Comforter and Guide. Therefore, praying in the Spirit cannot be neglected. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.” If you jaywalk two verses down to verse four, Apostle Paul states, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…” Moreover, Jude 1:20 tells us, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”

 Have you noticed a pattern yet? Praying in the Spirit edifies you, sanctifies you, and makes you better overall. It uplifts you and improves you through direct communication to Abba Father. Praying in the Spirit will turn your “frown upside down” when your soul is disturbed within you. It will have you singing, dancing, and praising God in the midst of a pandemic and a protest. Praying in the Spirit will give you patience and gentleness in traffic when you are usually the one cursing all the cars out. The power we have access to while praying in the Spirit is mind blowing for the simple fact that it is as if God is speaking to Himself. Thankfully, Jehovah Shammah always knows exactly what to say, even when we do not. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).”

 On the other hand, in Matthews 6:9-13, Jesus gave us the Lord’s prayer. You know the prayer that you memorized at a young age by reciting it over and over. You know the one that starts out uttering, “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name.” The prayer that reminds us to be cognizant when forgiving our debtors and asking for forgiveness for our trespasses, all in the same breath. If you have not noticed, Jesus Christ Himself gave us an exemplar prayer that shows you how powerful praying with an understanding can be.

Furthermore, Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This scripture urges us to be mindful of our conscious thoughts in order to resist feelings of fear, anxiety, and worry. Instead, as a Blood washed believer, you should pray with intentionality towards the hills because that is where your help comes from. You need to pray understanding that you can access power from Jesus to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. You must knowingly speak life to gifts that lay dormmate, call those things that are not as if they are so, and curse everything at the root that is contrary to the will of God in Jesus name. Pray directly to the Father about your loved ones, your finances, concerns, etc.… Just tell Him what is on your mind because the Lord hears the cries of the righteous. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).”

With that said, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).” Whether you pray with an understanding or in the Spirit, you have access to real POWER. God is the True Source, and you must go to Him in prayer often in order to recharge for the good fight of faith. In the words of the Apostle Paul, I encourage you, no matter what, “pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).”

Let us pray:

Eternal God, Our Father. I come to You humbly today, thanking You for the gift of prayer. I thank You for giving us a means to talk to You and reach You whenever we need to. I thank You for Your faithfulness and consistency in always following through on Your Word. For You are not a Man who shall lie, so I thank You for always being honest and telling us the truth during prayer. I ask that would You give every individual reading this blog a surge of power during their prayer time as they access more of You in the Spirit and with an understanding. It is in Jesus’ Mighty Name I pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen!