The Power of Prayer
by Reverend Dr. Peola C. Hicks 

“The tremendous power of prayer, if we really seek it, can cure every problem of our human existence, bring healing and faith, and love and peace to those whom we love, and transform our world.”—Norman Vincent Peale, 1958

Scripture: James 5:16b The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJV)

James 5:16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray (also) for one another, that you may be healed and restored (to a spiritual tone of mind and heart).  The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working). (Amplified Version)

What is Prayer?  The Greek word for prayer in the New Testament is proseuche.  It is used in various forms 127 times in the New Testament.

Pro carries the meaning of close, up-front, intimate contact with someone else.

Euche is an old Greek word that describes a wish, desire, prayer, or vow.

The idea of this word proseuche is an exchange.  Giving something to God in exchange for something wanted or desired.

In prayer, we give God our worries, fears, and concerns.  Then we ask the Lord to give us something back in exchange for the things that we give Him.

There is a song by John Tesh:  "I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my sickness, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord." This is the idea of exchange.  In prayer, you can make an exchange.  Give the Lord your fear in exchange for faith.

The other word for prayer is deisis and it has to do with fervent prayer.  This depicts a person who has some type of lack in their lives and therefore pleads strongly for their lack to be met.

It is translated several ways in the KJV, including to beseech, to beg, or to earnestly appeal to God.

This word deisis pictures a person in such great need that he feels compelled to push his pride out of the way so he can boldly, earnestly, strongly and passionately cry out for someone to help or assist him.

The prayer comes to God on the most serious terms, strongly beseeching Him to move and to meet a specific need that the person praying is facing in his or her life.

This is the same word used for supplication or fervent prayer.

Prayer in and of itself has no power.  Its power is God’s power.  According to C. Samuel Storms, “Apart from God it is an empty ritual, a meaningless flow of words.  Prayer is powerful because God is powerful and prayer is the means through which that divine power is released and channeled into our lives.”  (Reaching God’s Ears, p.223)

God governs the world through our prayers.  Psalm 106:23 tells us that Moses’ intercessory prayer kept God’s wrath from destroying Israel after they had sinned. It changed the course of history.

Prayer is powerful because it moves the hands of God.  E. M. Bounds declared, “Prayer can do anything God can do.”  God is almighty.  He can do anything.  But He chooses to exercise His power as directed by the prayers of His people.  Nothing can resist the prayer of God’s people in accord with His will and in His name… the name of Jesus.