Sometimes you hear someone say; “We’ve done all we can. The only thing we can do now is to pray.” Prayer should really be our first option when dealing with problems rather than being the last resort. Have you been in a situation where all you are left to do is prayer? Personally, I have. But why do we have to reach a point of desperation before we pray so earnestly? Prayer is too often regarded as a “last ditch effort” to deal with a problem. Yet in reality, it ought to be our chief concern. From a broad perspective, prayer is an event of indescribably magnificent dimensions: for it is communion with the Almighty God of the universe. It is His world, after all, and our obstacles, while insurmountable in our own strength, are certainly no challenge to Him. And His Word makes plain His desire that we “cast all of our cares upon Him.” And how do we do that? It is through prayer. Prayer heals The scriptures are clear on the healing power of prayer. Psalm 41:3: The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. Matthew 4:23: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” But the healing power of prayer can only be felt when we confess our sins and seek genuine forgiveness. James 5:16: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous man is effective and has great strength.” Studies have been done in the medical field showing the power of prayers. They used two groups of people to observe the difference between the group that was being prayed for and the group that wasn’t. There was a marked difference in the recovery of those who were being prayed for, and they weren’t even told that they were being prayed for. Most hospitals realize the importance of prayer in the healing process for their patients, and welcome pastors and chaplains to be a part of the healing team. If in any doubt, you can ask any medical worker nearest to you. From a narrower and far more personal perspective, prayer is one of the most common and essential elements imaginable: it is the sustaining breath of spiritual life. To deny the soul prayer is akin to denying the body oxygen. Without it, the believer withers; with it, however, the child of God is more than a conqueror. Rev. Gatera is the Senior Pastor,Jesus Messiah Assembly Ministries,Kigali, Rwanda
