MIF 9:4 (July-Aug 1977)
The Power Of Prayer
“In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).
Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of Him that we are capable of in this life. The believer realizes that no calamity is too great, no event too trivial, to be carried to the Throne of Grace and laid before the Lord that He may detail every burden, perplexity and trial.
But prayer does not merely alleviate burdens. It brings us into an intimate, direct and glorious relationship with the Lord which is found by no other means and can be constantly experienced by faith. In addition, we have the blessed assurance that “He ever liveth to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25), whereby we may seek the supply of every need out of the divine resources which are always at our disposal (Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 4:16).
Whatever the need there is a need for prayer, and as there is no need which is above the power of God, so there is no interest which is beneath His care. The way of access is ever open to the child of God through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His precious blood. And now, as our Great High Priest, He appears in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:24). His unchangeable priesthood and His unfailing office as the minister of the sanctuary brings Him near to us as our Great High Priest in all the intensity of His love, in all the fullness of His grace, in all the abundance of His strength, in all the sweetness of His sympathy, and in all the assurance of His mighty power to the faint and failing heart (Isaiah 40:31).
Though prayer is the key which opens God’s treasure, faith is the hand that turns the key. It has been well said, “Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.” Indeed no greater privilege is given to the child of God than simply resting on the assurance of His Word, whereby we find the reality of divine power and mercy exercised so that even impossibilities become possibilities for God’s glory.
— Henry C. Spence