In some of the old TV Westerns of the 1950s, the desperados (always in black hats) would be making their escape with the stolen loot from the stagecoach robbery. Suddenly, someone in the posse pursuing them (usually the ones in the white hats) would shout, "We have 'em now! They've ridden into a box canyon!" And everybody knows there's no way out of a box canyon.
There are box canyons in life, too; seemingly impossible situations where there seems to be no way out and nowhere to turn. Surrounded by insurmountable obstacles, you find yourself temporarily paralyzed, not knowing what to do. Those are the very times when God invites us to pray.
In Acts 12, we find the story of how God took a tragic, even hopeless, situation and turned it around. It was accomplished by the power of prayer, the kind of prayer that storms the throne of God and gets an answer. Scripture says, "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church" (Acts 12:5). Though all doors were closed, one remained open: the door of prayer. The church recognized that "We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT).
Prayer was, and still is, the church's secret weapon. Although the devil struck a blow against the church, the church gained victory through prayer as Peter was miraculously released. Sadly, we don't pray often enough. It is essential that Christians learn more about effective prayer, because all of us will certainly face difficulties, hardships, problems, and more than a few box canyons. So we need to discover what God can do through the power of prayer.
Prayer for the Christian should be second nature, like breathing. We should automatically pray, lifting our needs and requests before the Lord. Jesus said that we should always pray and not lose heart (see Luke 18:1). Prayer is something we should never avoid and never grow tired of. Prayer should be woven through our day like a bright gold thread woven through a piece of fabric. The more we pray, the more we will see the kingdom of God break through the darkness of seemingly impossible situations.
And what should we pray about? Answer: Everything!
Praying is not about getting things,Prayer is getting to know YHWH.
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
When YHWH has given His answer concerning the request of a person,does the person testify to what has been
'accomplished' for that person,
Or does the person testify to who YHWH is,and to what He is like.
Acts 1:8
(KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(KJV+) ButG235 ye shall receiveG2983 power,G1411 after that theG3588 HolyG40 GhostG4151 is comeG1904 uponG1909 you:G5209 andG2532 ye shall beG2071 witnessesG3144 unto meG3427 bothG5037 inG1722 Jerusalem,G2419 andG2532 inG1722 allG3956 Judaea,G2449 andG2532 in Samaria,G4540 andG2532 untoG2193 the uttermost partG2078 of theG3588 earth.G1093
(LITV) but you will receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you, and you will be witnesses of Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
(YLT) but ye shall receive power at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon you, and ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the end of the earth.'
I also do not believe there is any power in prayer.
I believe 'POWER BELONGS TO YHWH'
Praying brings me into seeing my spiritual poverty,thus seeing my need for depending upon YHWH to being the gracious benefactor that He is.
Luk_11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Praying is like the power lines that run from the power plant into someones house.
Is there 'ANY' power at all within the power lines themselves.
Absolutely not.
Then what is the purpose for the power lines.
These lines carry,or transmit the power that the generating station has been producing.
The power satation producs the power.
The power lines carry / transmit the power from the power station to where the power in needed.
How does one know that there is power in the building,just flip on the light switch,
If the lights go on,then there has been a good connection.
The same with praying
When there has been an answer from YHWH,this is because a person has prayed 'ACCORDING' to the will of ABBA.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Prayer is not answered according to my request,my personality,nor my insisting on being answered.
Prayer is not answered just because two or more 'TOUCH and AGREE'.
Prayer is based solely upon myself being 'Rightly' related to YHWH through His Adoption of me in Yeshua.
Prayer is based solely upon the Nature,character,and will of YHWH.
Prayer is based upon my spiritual poverty to needing the 'KINGSHIP' of YHWH fulfilled to me.
Prayer then is to be 'GETTING YHWH, to knowing who He is and to knowing what He is like.
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
The better understanding of this Scripture is thus.
