"Faith And Prayer Move God" - Inspirational Weekend

The title of this post, "Faith And Prayer Move God", is a quote from E.M. Bounds.  In his book on prayer, he stresses that faith and prayer work together.  There is power in prayer!  There is power in faith!  "Prayer is simply faith", says Mr. Bounds.  It is said also that faith is trust in something....a belief, a conviction, and a hope.

"True godliness is just as true, steady, and persevering in the realm of faith as it is in the province of prayer.  Moreover, when faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live."   -  E. M. Bounds

In my own life, I have discovered that when God does answer my prayers, it serves to increase my faith whenever I reflect on those answered prayers in hindsight.  I have also learned that to wait on God is a strong demonstration of faith.  

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  -  Hebrews 11:1

The entire chapter of Hebrews 11 defines faith and mentions prophets and others, like Noah and Abraham (and many others), who proved their faith.  

"Faith is trust or commitment to what you think is true."    -  William Lane Craig

"Faith knows there will be delays in answering prayer, and regards such delays as times of testing, in the which, it is privileged to show its mettle, and the stern stuff of which it is made."     - E. M. Bounds

The power of prayer is the power of God.  He hears and answers all prayers, even if the answer is no.  

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."   -   Matthew 21:22

"Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for satan."  -  John Bunyan

"Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness."  -  William Carey

"Prayer is the acid test of devotion."  -  Samuel Chadwick

Following is a beautiful hymn from 1740 by Charles Wesley.

So much could be written about faith and prayer; indeed, much has already been written on those topics.  In writing this post and in reading Scriptures on faith and prayer, I was very edified and I hope you are as well.

Following is an excellent sermon by Charles Spurgeon on the life and walk of faith :

In the above sermon, Charles Spurgeon stresses abiding in Christ always.  "Jesus is your all in all" and we should "find substance in Christ.....Ye are complete in Christ!"   Spurgeon is known as "The prince of preachers" and his sermons are deep yet explanatory.  I pray that you will listen to the entire message.

When you pray and have faith in the Lord, your priorities will change.   You will realize that the only important thing in this life is God and Jesus, and you will live your life accordingly, with the goal of being more like the Savior. 

Remember, when we pray, we need to ask according to God's will, or our prayers will not be answered.   Also, we need to repent of any and all sin so that we come to the Lord forgiven and clean, and He will listen to us with love and understanding.

"Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth."  -  John 9:31


Have a blessed and Christ-centered weekend !



"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."      -  Philippians 4:6-7

"Pray without ceasing."  -  1 Thessalonians 5:17

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  -   Romans 10:17

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it."   -   John 14:13-14

"The Power Of Prayer" - Inspirational Weekend

Many thousands of prayers were answered today when now President Donald Trump was inaugurated.  There is power in prayer !  I have written about prayer before.  You might want to go here for that post on "Reasons to Pray", where there is also a sermon by Charles Spurgeon concerning prayer.  Today I will concentrate on the power of prayer with famous quotes and many Scriptures. 

 One quote I have used before is by Charles Spurgeon, who said, "A prayerless soul is a Christless soul."  We need to pray to build a relationship with the Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ.  That is what the Lord wants most from us: a strong, personal, intimate relationship with Him.  That is our purpose in life, to worship God and to fellowship with Him in praise and prayer.  Our Heavenly Father also wants us to share the Gospel of Jesus with others; and it should be urgent that we do so because we are living in the last days and we want as many souls as possible to be saved and to go be with the Lord in heaven before the Great Tribulation occurs.   We need to occupy ourselves in the Lord's work until Jesus returns in the Rapture to take us home with Him.   

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."  -  Romans 14:8

"Yes, worship of the loving God is man's whole reason for existence."  -  A.W. Tozer  

"The most important thing a born again Christian can do is pray."  -  Chuck Smith

"Seven days without prayer makes one weak."  -  Allen E. Vartlett

"He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life."  -  William Law

And while you are reading this about prayer, it is good to note what Paul E. Billheimer said, "Satan does not care how many people read about prayer, if only he can keep them from praying."  One of the devil's most effective tools against Christians is to get them so busy and occupied and keep them busy so that they have no time for prayer.   It is sad to think that Christ suffered and died for us at Calvary and that we do not have time for Him and for His Father.  We should be so grateful for all the Lord has done that we want to be with Him always and to give Him thanks continually in prayer. 

"Don't pray when you feel like it.  Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.  A man is powerful on his knees."  -  Corrie ten Boom   

When you come right down to it, the power of prayer is the power of God.  The omnipotent God in heaven; the Creator of the universe and of we finite humans.   When we pray to Almighty God we should expect almighty results.   That is, if we pray in accordance with God's will and if we are born again Christians.   God will also answer a sinner's prayer when he comes to the Lord in repentance and asking for forgiveness.  After a vile sinner repents, God will hear and answer his prayers as well,  as he grows to know the Lord and lives a godly Christian life.  Yes, there is power in prayer, because He saves us from sin and the grasp of the evil devil.   Not only that, but God makes us as a new creature: 

 "Therefore  if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new."  -  2 Corinthians 5:17     God's great power !

There is much power in prayer because of what Jesus said at Matthew 7:7-8 :  "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth: and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."  That is true power of prayer.  

The Bible throughout gives us many examples of the power of prayer.   One instance is when God decided to destroy the wicked city of Nineveh and told the prophet Jonah to preach to them and to warn them.  Most of you are familiar with the story and how Jonah disobeyed and caught a ship to Tarshish instead, was thrown overboard and was swallowed by a great fish.    Deep in the belly of the fish Jonah prayed to God, and the Lord caused the fish to vomit Jonah on the shore. Power of prayer!  When Jonah finally obeyed and went to Nineveh to warn them of their destruction, the wicked people there repented and prayed, and "God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not."  - Jonah 3:10     Power of prayer !

Another is the time Moses prayed for the Israelites after they made the golden calf and worshiped it, thereby showing blasphemy and idolatry.  God was so angry that He told Moses that He was going to destroy them all and make a nation instead out of Moses.   Moses prayed for 40 days and God listened to him.  "And the Lord repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people."      -  Exodus 32:14  Think of it, Moses' prayer saved a nation!  Power of prayer !

There are countless other men who prayed and God answered them in mighty ways.  There was Hezekiah, Elijah, Elisha, and Abraham.   In the New Testament, many prayers were answered as well. Amazing miracles resulted from the apostles' prayers, such as raising people from the dead.

My prayer is that you make a strong commitment to the Lord to pray without ceasing and to read the Holy Word daily, thereby growing stronger in faith and the in power of the Holy Spirit.  You will also acquire a deeper relationship with God and the Savior Jesus Christ.  

"Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to satan."  -  John Bunyan

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it."   -  Jesus at John 14:13-14

"And all things you shall ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."  -  Jesus at Matthew 21:22