The Power of Prayer

Introduction

Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us. Prayer is love in need appealing to love in power, which is God.

Hosea 10:12 (NKJV)

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

The Minor Prophets bring a message of hope. Even though God’s people walked away from Him, God promised to turn things around. God brings renewal and revival. Based on Hosea 10:12, we will look into the seven principles of prayer:

1. Sow for Yourselves Righteousness

Prayer is a principle of sowing and reaping. When we pray:

• We are not wasting time.
• We will reap results, even if we do not see them in our lifetime, when we do not faint.
• We are putting good seeds into our spiritual ground.
• God hears our prayers, and it is going to work.

God’s move is dependent on us taking a step of faith. When we sow in righteousness, we will reap in mercy.

2. Break up Our Fallow Ground

Prayer begins with a heart and mind softened by God’s Word. ‘Fallow ground’ refers to unused or unplowed land. In prayer, we must ensure that the soil of our heart is not fallow ground. The condition of our heart determines our growth, fruitfulness, and destiny in God.

Mark 11:25 (NKJV)

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

3. It Is Time

It is the proper time to seek the Lord. When we pray, it brings us into a season where God is about to launch miraculous things in our lives. Prayer brings the power of God into collision with our lives.

4. To Seek the Lord

This principle speaks to the focus of prayer. Our prayer should be birthed from a deep hunger and a drive to see God move among us. Prayer is a time to really do business with God, showing Him that we hunger and hope for Him earnestly.

5. Until

This emphasizes persistence. Many prayers are granted by God, but people give up before the answer comes. We need to persist in prayer until something happens, just as Daniel did when he faced opposition from the prince of Persia until the archangel Michael came to help.

Daniel 10:12–14 (NKJV)

12 “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words.”

6. He Comes

When we pray, we experience the dynamic presence of Christ through the empowering of the Holy Spirit. As we continue praying, the Spirit comes to empower us, making our prayers productive.

7. Rains Righteousness on Us

Rain symbolizes God’s favor, blessings, strength, and prosperity. It is a sign of the flow of the Holy Spirit. Prayer releases the rain of God, allowing us to receive showers of blessings. The rain of God comes in direct response to our prayer.

Conclusion

We sow into righteousness in the beginning, and God rains down righteousness on us. Our God hears and answers prayers. Let us not underestimate the power of prayer because it is one of the greatest weapons of spiritual warfare.