Prayer Is Fruitful Not Futile
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12 PM January 21, 2006
Two miners are trapped hundreds of feet underground in Melville, West Virginia, for the second day. Fire and smoke in the coal mine has kept rescuers from reaching Don Brag and Ellery “Elvis” Hatfield. No one knows if they are dead or alive.
A television news anchorwoman stands in the Melville street airing frequent updates. Visible behind her is the Badger Lumber Company sign; one word is written there: PRAY.
Praying is what their wives and six children desperately hope we are doing as the community of Melville keeps vigil with them in the church. Prayer is for all seasons of life, but especially in desperate times, wise men and women pray.
3 PM Breaking News
Don Brag and Elvis Hatfield have been found dead. Tragedy, in spite of believing prayer.
Does God answer prayer? Yes. Is it always the answer we want? No. Must we keep on praying even when we do not understand His ways? Yes. When prayers are not answered, God is always present with grace and help to strengthen our hearts and spirits.
What is prayer?
Prayer is talking with God. It is praise and worship and giving thanks. To pray is to meditate on his wonderworks and his character. Prayer is interceding for others, warring against the enemy for the souls of men.
Nothing matches the high privilege of prayer. There is no awe or wonder as great as an audience with the King of Kings. No power is greater than prayer power. Wealth, personal power and influence all run a poor second to the thrill of daily prayer. Life offers no greater joy. As Beth Moore states, in her book, The Patriarchs, “There ain’t no high like the Most High”.
Are we qualified to pray?
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 Faith rests in God, trusting in his love to hear and answer prayer. Faith qualifies us as God’s children and gives us a right to our Father’s provisions. “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23).
Why pray to God?
We are commanded to pray. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness “ (1 Timothy 2:1,2).
All power resides in Jesus as the Son of God. He calls us to pray in His name. As we ask, believing, he defeats evil, heals the sick, frees the captive, restores hope, releases counsel. Prayer rises to God and returns with answers or peace. Nothing in the spiritual realm happens without prayer.
God desires intimacy and fellowship with us. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 Wonderful Counselor longs to talk with us! He is waiting to pour miracles and gifts through us. Will we pray?
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14,15). What a promise! Let’s pray.
Questions: How has God answered your prayers?
About the Author Petey Prater
Dear Kanj, YES! He hears every prayer, the timing IS His alone. He always only longs to help us, He never hinders us except when we are heading the wrong direction. Then His Holy Spirit ‘convicts and convinces us of sin, righteousness and judgment to come.’ John 16:8 Unanswered prayer doesn’t always mean we are not listening. It may mean that others involved in the answer may not be ready yet to line up with Him, or for other reasons the timing is not quite right. Or He might be testing our perserverance, faith, or humility as He did the Canaanite woman in Mt 15:22-28. God tests our faith to see how much we are willing to press in to receive His great answers. But always, He is faithful. Praise God.
Blessings, Petey
prayers are fruitful, they are not said in vain. God hears every prayer; it’s in His time, not ours. it is His decision that our request help or hinder us. He knows best. for me personally, i have had more prayers not answered than answered but like the trials that have brought me to the Lord, i know now that the unanswered prayers are a blessing cause that means that i’m not listening. more growing to do is the message and i accept this without one ‘but’ why.
I’m sorry Peter, but I don’t see how EZ 22:30-31 or Jer 5:1 have anything to do with what you are talking about. Jean
Hi all, See Ezekial 22:30-31. Also Jer 5:1. God can do anything, but He has chosen to hear our prayers, He wants man to cooperate with Him in the redemptive work. Christ came and modeled intercessory prayer and became our sacrificial lamb, and ever lives to make intercession for us, and the Holy Spirit also intercedes. But God in His wisdom wants man to cooperate in bringing souls to Him. Ask, seek, knock. How stunning that we as intercessors can move the hand of God. Check out Moses who even caused God to change His mind! Blessings, petey
In the devotional it says,”Nothing in the spiritual realm happens without prayer.” What does that mean? I am having a hard time understanding, or believing, that nothing happens in the spiritual realm without prayer.
God has always answered my prayer but some times He told me no and sometimes to wait. I am waiting right now for Him to answer a very important prayer and I know He will in His own time
Petey, you made me think of my first marriage and how i begged the LORD to make things “right”. i was chosen of the LORD into salvation while IN that marrigae. My growth was fast, joyful and totally satisfied with getting to know Jesus yet in repelled my husband and he told me to”make a choice between him or God!” As Abba Father weaned me into greater faith, my prayers seemed to go unheard. I made the “choice” for God and my salvation i stayed single for 14 yrs hoping the LORD was going to save my marriage yet what i didn’t know was this man was going to get wrongfully involved with drug cartels from another country, cause a 2nd wife to get addicted to drugs and suicidal and he to wind up in a hospital and ultimately into prison. God knew ALL about this to happen yet all i could do was cry and beg Him to get us back together again! Well, I would have been the one to suffer through all that. So yes, the “NO” answer is a GOOD answer!
The greatest, most rewarding, hardest, most joyful work I have ever done is the work of prayer. Father hears and answers,every time. Sometines its yes and sometimes no. Check out 1 John 5:13-15 and Job 22:27-30 (I like amplified!)
I would give up all I treasure most to have time with the Father in prayer. It is the prayer warriors that change the world for God. What privilege. hugs, petey prater
Just one day this week i was emailing with one of your mentors about prayer. I believe that God is answering my prayer just by you printing this article at this time. I don’t always know what to say when I am praying, but I do meditate on His wonderous worksand His character. God has answered several prayers for me. Some He has not. I believe answered or not it is all in His glorious plan for me. Jean
Hello Trisha, Kay, and Em! Thanks so much for taking time to read and share your thoughts. I just came from a prayer retreat, Jill Briscoe spoke on video. She said: “Spiritual energy comes from intimacy with the Father. Prayer is Doing. A church (Christian) is only as strong as their prayer life. Go to the deep place and sit on the steps of your soul and listen to Abba Father. Don’t waste your pain, use it to benefit the world.” Prayer is the greatest adventure we will ever have. Looking at the face of Father Creator of the universe – what could be greater! Lord, teach us to come to Abba Papa and listen. From that place we will find rest and go out to risk obedience for the King of Kings. May God bless your lives and ministries. hugs, petey prater
Thanks so much for this reminder.
Yes, God does answer pray he has healed me of Cancer twice in my life.
This morning God answered prayer for a good Christian friend of mine who was very depressed. My friend has been healed of his depression. Praise The Lord! As Lord is so good to us who know and love him. When we are faithful in our prayers God will answer them. PTL from who all mercies follow. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.Amen
Listen, i’ve had so much prayer answered with a “NO” i find it amazing when there’s a “Yes”.
i suppose you can say it’s “strengthed” me into some kind of character building. It will always come down to… God is Sovereign and will do what ever He wants whenever He wants! Praise His Holy Name because His Majesty is beyond our human understanding.