What if God would relent because of your prayers?

I think we can all agree that the LORD is extremely gracious and merciful, right? There are moments when I still find it difficult to fully express my gratitude to Him for all that He has done for me in the short time I've been on earth. So, if like me you're able to recognize how good God has been to you, wouldn't it make sense to pray for other people, so that they may hopefully begin to see how good He can be to them too?

Since the LORD pulled me out of the slumber I was in back in 2021, I've had to humble myself and be willing to pray even when I don't feel like it. It was a big adjustment, especially that time when I was really sleepy and was already comfy under my blanket on my couch and the Holy Spirit prompted me to get up and pray right then and there for someone. However, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that praying daily, sometimes multiple times a day has truly improved my overall well-being in a way that I couldn't take credit for even if I tried.

Leading PIAL has also forced me to surrender my comfort and convenience and to use the power of prayer on behalf of the families, households, and bloodlines represented within our ministry. Although I can't control whether someone attends our ministry calls consistently, I can choose to consistently pray for them whenever the Holy Spirit puts them on my heart. Let's be honest though, are we just as willing to pray about the sad and unjust situations that we hear about all day everyday online? What about the ongoing turmoil happening in our local city or hometown? I guess what I'm really asking is this, do you truly believe that your prayers availeth much?

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16

The Greek word for availeth in the Strong's concordance is ischyō and it means to be strong, to have power, to be a force, to be serviceable, to be able. In verses 13-18 of James 5, Apostle James encourages us to pray if anyone among us is afflicted, cheerful, sick, or in sin. Prayer is simply communication with God, and when you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can boldly approach God's throne in faith to get the grace and mercy that you're seeking for yourself or someone else (ref. Hebrews 4:16). So, this means that...

At least that's what the Holy Spirit revealed to me during Bible Study on December 18, 2023. Being a prayer warrior isn't an office in what some Bible scholars refer to as the 5-fold ministry. It's a posture. Apostle Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6 because most of the unpleasant things that we hear about or experience have less to do with flesh & blood and more to do with the various spirits and principalities that are bent on destroying people, places, and things from the inside-out.

But what if your prayer for your neighbor's daughter who's been struggling with her identity could move Jesus to visit her and restore her identity in Him? What if your weekly prayers for the violence in Darfur Sudan could move the LORD to send in reinforcements that will successfully prevent another genocide from happening there? What if your daily prayers for your coworker's marriage could lead them to try marriage counseling instead of moving forward with a separation?

When you have the backing of the LORD, your words are way more powerful than someone who doesn't know Him yet. Your words can move mountains. Your words can change the outcome of a bad situation. But first, you've got to be willing to open your mouth and pray. 

Who is the Holy Spirit prompting you to pray for today?