Introduction:
In a world where strength is often equated with power and might, prayer stands as a beacon of hope for the so-called “weaklings.” I intentionally used the term ‘weaklings’ to emphasize the profoundness of the inspired idea. Prayer is a sacred practice that transcends mere words, reaching deep into the essence of our being to connect with the divine. It is in the moments of humble surrender and heartfelt supplication that true strength is found, transcending earthly limitations to embrace life. Let us delve into the profound paradox of prayer, where the weak find strength, the lost find guidance, and the humble find grace beyond measure.
By nature, the strong; the mighty; the wise; and the self-confident ones (the carnally oriented), do not possess an inclination for the supernatural. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts – Psalm 10:4.
Prayer to the Almighty God is the one mode through which humans can gain strength to overcome and to do things, which are beyond one’s ability.
The tendency to pray seems to naturally exist within all living beings. One need not teach any to pray; even a sigh can have enough words only the Creator could decipher; a teardrop is a reservoir in which the prayers are aggregated.
Of course, praying is much more than just requesting things from God. Praise, confession, thanksgiving, and many other things are included in prayer. In certain cases, prayers are not even spoken. As one author put it decades ago:
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, unuttered or expressed, the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear, the upward glancing of the eye when none but God is near – James Montgomery
Prayer is vital to lead a balanced life. Why one might ask? Because evil is present with us – Romans 7:17-24. Prayer is a vital force that would not only activate the supernatural helpline but also hold such power to repel all forms of wickedness and evil from befalling us. Prayer is a divine activity within the soul of a person. It is a grace that’s been bestowed upon mankind.
God opposes the proud at heart but He gives grace to the humble; and the contrite in heart.
- It is, God that works in us—to will and to do—of His good pleasure – Phil 2:13.
- God’s power is made perfect in weakness – 2 Cor 12:9.
- Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities (frailty): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought – Romans 8:26.
A person who opts to pray—is in a way admitting that he/she is weak and that God would consider them. A person may not be conscious that he/she is praying but prayers can be so subtle that the natural man may not be knowing what the spirit of man prays. The Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered – Romans 8:26.
I would like to point out a few examples:
“My conviction is reinforced by my strong belief, that the man who was possessed by a legion and bound in chains (as described in the Gospels) was bound both spiritually and physically. Although the devils possessed his soul, his inner self could still pick up what the passers-by discussed, particularly those related to the Messiah. As the Scripture states, “But now even more the report about Christ went a fame abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities” – Luke 5:15. His inner self must have cried out for help (‘tsa`aqah’) and desired salvation. His cry was heard by the shepherd of souls, and the Master acted quickly to grant such fervent requests.”
The word “tsa`aqah” in Hebrew carries the deep meaning of a cry, outcry, or a loud call for help or deliverance. It often conveys a sense of urgency, desperation, or intense emotion in the context of calling out for assistance or intervention. The same word is used to express the cry of Israel in the house of bondage. The Lord said I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows – Exodus 3:7.
The answer to his groans or helplessness came without delay. The Shepherd of Souls immediately reached for him and set him free from the evil powers that had taken over his being. Devils may influence or possess souls, but I believe they cannot penetrate the deeper realm of man, where only God has the right of way. That is the power of true prayer.
The story also corroborates that he was an Israelite, a Jew–and that deep within he longed that the man of Galilee would come by and restore his life. He must have been aware of the cliché: “for salvation is from the Jews”- John 4:22, which is why his inner being could call for help.
We are aware that a special grace was accessible exclusively to the Jews during that period, as Jesus explicitly mentioned his mission to rescue the lost sheep of the house of Israel – Matthew 10:6/15:24. This explains why Jesus urged the Jews to strive to enter through the door while the master of the house is still there – Luke 13:24, 25. He was essentially conveying to them, “This is a one-time offer” and “This is a singular window of opportunity”; however, once the master of the house has risen and has shut the door (closing of that dispensational door), and you start to stand outside, knocking at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity – Luke 13:25-27.
The grace that Jesus made available to the Jews was limited to them, according to Matthew 10:5. It was only after the Spirit of God came on the day of Pentecost that the Gentiles would be granted repentance, as stated in Acts 11:18.
Cornelius and his family are considered the first Gentiles to embrace Christ in the New Testament, signifying Christianity’s expansion to include Gentiles. Their conversion is detailed in Acts 10. While the Gospels mention Gentile interactions with Jesus, Acts highlights Gentile conversions. Notable encounters in the Gospels include the Canaanite Woman and the Roman Centurion – Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10.
Other instances in the Bible where individuals pray silently or in their hearts. One notable example is in Nehemiah 2:1-5, where Nehemiah prays silently before speaking to the king about his request to rebuild Jerusalem. Another example is in Matthew 9:2-8, where Jesus perceives the thoughts of the teachers of the law who were questioning his authority, even though they did not speak out loud. These are just a few examples of silent or internal prayers found in the Bible.
Hagar the bondwoman of Sarai, abandoned the child in the wilderness with no water. She then sat at a distance and cried, hoping not to witness the child’s death. However, God heard the child’s voice, and an angel from heaven spoke to Hagar, asking, “What’s wrong, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the child.” Genesis 21
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight – Psalm 19:14.
If Jesus could perceive what was in their hearts, He must have surely perceived the state of the demoniac’s inner plea. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold Yahweh, you know it all together – Psalm 139:4.
Hence, the most powerful prayer is that of the heart, in the spirit.
No wonder the Psalmist said, commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still (Psalm 4:4)
- Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: (1 Samuel 1:13). Her heartfelt whispers brought into existence one of the greatest Prophets who ever lived on this planet, Samuel.
- But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you – Matthew 6:6
- “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water – Gen 24:45
- Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God – Rom 8:26,27
- A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. Psalm 139:1-4
- The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14
- And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35
- Pray without ceasing – 1Thess 5:17 – How do we pray without ceasing, if not by praying in the heart?
- Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! Psalm 139:23
- Praying at all times in the Spirit/in the heart – Ephesians 6:18
- But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray – Luke 5:16
- A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! Psalm 17:1
- Jesus Christ in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death (Hebrews 5:7)
- Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And (whose effect) the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18)
- Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:8)
- And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14,15)
- “be filled with the Spirit”—Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18,19)
Prayer is earthly; it is a phenomenon inherent to mortal existence. Being separated from God or the effect of innate sinfulness and evil entails us to pray. “The antithesis of prayer can be understood as fellowship. “Just as departing for a distant land temporarily severs familial fellowship, and only by mail or telephone can we stay in touch, prayer serves as the vital connection that transcends physical barriers, allowing us to commune with God despite the separation caused by sin.” Sin disrupted the original fellowship between humanity and God, necessitating prayer as a medium of communication. The Scriptures instruct us to ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble’ (Psalm 50:15), a sentiment echoed by David who declared, ‘As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me’ (Psalm 55:16). The act of prayer symbolizes our desire for communion with God, who promises to answer, protect, deliver, and honour those who call upon Him (Psalm 91:15).”
Jesus said, In the world, ye shall have tribulation – John 16:33; BUT PRAY—enter thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly – Matthew 6:6; praying in the Holy Ghost – Jude 1:20; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints – Ephesians 6:18; Pray without ceasing – 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
“When Jesus transforms our earthly bodies to be like His glorious body, and we become like Him – Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2, we are united with God in a profound and indescribable fellowship. This unity with God is so complete that we dissolve into Him, becoming one with the divine. As John witnessed in Revelation 21:22, there was no need for a temple in this divine presence, as the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb serve as the temple itself. In this state of unity, the need for earthly religious structures and rituals fades away, as the separation from God is ultimately overcome.”
Prayer transcends the physical realm, serving as a spiritual conduit for accessing the virtues and life of the kingdom. It is a means of making earthly petitions to the Almighty God, open to all beings. Deep within the human spirit, a profound yearning for vitality and sustenance emerges, signifying a spiritual void that prayer seeks to address. This inner longing, distinct from worldly concerns, cannot be filled by the transient offerings of the world. Fundamentally, it is a cry for spiritual renewal and a yearning to be reconnected with one’s Creator.”
“The arrival of the Saviour was essential to fill this spiritual void. Through His sacrificial atonement for our sins, the Saviour reconciled us with God, granting us peace and the confidence to approach Him as our loving Father. Jesus Christ’s intervention re-established our connection to God through His Spirit.
Prayer serves as a guiding force, keeping us aligned with God and providing buoyancy amidst life’s trials and tribulations.”
Conclusion:
In the quiet chambers of our hearts, where words may fail and silence speaks volumes, prayer resonates as a symphony of faith and surrender. It is in these sacred moments of communion with the divine that we find our truest selves, stripped of pretense and ego, standing humbly before the Almighty. Let us embrace the transformative power of prayer, allowing it to uplift our spirits, fortify our souls, and pave the way for miracles beyond our wildest dreams. For in prayer lies not just a ritual, but a profound journey of the heart—a journey that leads us home to the loving embrace of our Creator.
And as we journey through the sacred realm of prayer, we come to realize that it is not the strong who are called, but the weak. For in our moments of vulnerability and need, we discover a source of strength that defies human understanding—a strength born of faith, nurtured by humility, and sustained by divine grace. May we embrace our weaknesses as pathways to true strength, our prayers as whispers of the soul, and our connection with the Almighty as a testament to the enduring power of the weaklings who find strength in surrender.