There is POWER IN PRAYER!
Moses Prayed and the Red Sea parted! … David Prayed and He was strengthened!
Job Prayed and the Lord restored His fortunes… Daniel Prayed and he was delivered!
Hannah Prayed and she had a son…. Jonah Prayed and God saved him.
Peter Prayed and he received vision… Paul Prayed and people were healed!
Jesus prayed, not my will but Yours be done! (CarpenTree.com)
Let us be encouraged from 2 Events in Israel’s History -
In Isaiah 36-37 the King of Assyria Sennacherib threatened God’s people under King Hezekiah and put uncertainty in their minds, “Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let him persuade you to put your trust in the Lord.” Make peace with us he urged, or surely, we will destroy you.
King Hezekiah’s response – he humbled himself and prayed to God against those who ridiculed and threatened God’s remnant. Isaiah the prophet encouraged the King, with promise of deliverance.
‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard…these words of blaspheme, I will cut him down.”
Power of Praise – Hezekiah offered this Prayer, “Lord Almighty, the God of Israel… you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words sent to ridicule the living God…. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.” (Isaiah 37:16-17,20)
Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp… and Sennacherib was killed by the sword. V. 36, 38
God answered Prayer!
King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20) was told a vast army from several nations was coming against God’s people to destroy them…. he called for prayer and fasting.
Focus on praise. “Power and might are in Your hand.” v. 6 Pray in faith. “We will cry out to You in our distress and You will hear and save us.” v. 9 Fix your eyes on the Lord. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” v. 12. Listen to the Lord. “Do not be afraid or discouraged… for the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s. v. 15. Worship and let praise fill your heart. “all the people… fell down in worship before the Lord. Have faith in the Lord Your God… praise Him for the splendor of His Holiness.” v. 18 Deliverance came as a spirit of confusion came on their enemies and turned on one another and were destroyed. God answered Prayer!
PRAY AND WORSHIP – FIX YOUR EYES ON THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!
Lord, we humble ourselves and cry out to you in our distress, we repent and ask for mercy. We fix our eyes on You. Hear… Save… Deliver us from enemies who threaten us and come against your righteousness and truth. Let the wicked fall into the traps they themselves have set. According to your word, “Though the wicked plot evil and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.” Psalm 21:11
In Christ’s Service and In Devotion to His Word * Compiled by Sally Keiran (2020)
Pray from Psalm 140…Rescue us, Lord, from evildoers; protect us from the violent,
2 who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.
4 Keep us safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect us from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.” Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.
7 Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed.
12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.
Pray from Psalm 141…
1 I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds
8 But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—
9 Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
Pray from Psalm 144
1 Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
5 Part your heavens, Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.
6 Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy; shoot your arrows and rout them.
7 Reach down your hand from on high; deliver us and rescue us… from the hands enemies 8 whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
9 I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David.
From the deadly sword deliver us; There will be no breaching of walls … .no cry of distress in our streets.
15 Blessed are the people of whom this is true; Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!!