Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

• Ephesians 3:16-19

“Through prayer God gives us his peace, and that is one reason even self-sufficient people fall on their knees and pour out their hearts to him. But there is another reason. People are drawn to prayer because they know that God’s power flows primarily to people who pray.
“The Scriptures overflow with passages teaching that our almighty, omnipotent God is ready, willing and able to answer the prayers of his followers. The miracles of Israel’s exodus from Egypt and journey to the Promised Land were all answers to prayer. So were Jesus’ miracles of stilling storms, providing food, healing the sick and raising the dead. As the early church formed and grew and spread throughout the world, God answered the believers’ continual prayers for healing and deliverance.”

• Bill Hybels, Too Busy NOT to Pray

I had a previous post where Rev. Bill Hybels talked about being in God’s presence as a primary reason why people pray, but in this short bit of writing, we will discuss the other reason that Rev. Hybels mentions, God’s power.

As C. S. Lewis states, God is not a senile grandfather that wishes the children will have a good time.  Although the Scripture above speaks of God’s abundant riches, Paul is praying for God’s power, and specifically God’s power to love one another.

In this day of division and hatred in the world, we need God’s strength and power to do what God commands, to love one another.

And God’s power can extend to healing and other such miracles.  But in intercessory prayer for healing, we are taking one of those tiny steps in learning how to love our neighbors.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.