Many people have the idea that prayer has power!  Perhaps you have heard it said that prayer can move mountains!   Did not the Biblical writer James tell us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective? (James 5:16)   To illustrate this James goes on to tell us a story about a prophet in Israel's history:  "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." (James 5:17-18)   In our drought stricken land of Australia, we might conclude that all we need is a bunch of God-fearing people to spend some time in prayer, and the skies will pour down rain ending drought and bring lasting relief to our farmers.   Or we might conclude that we have a 'righteous' problem in our land.   The argument goes like this.   The prayers of righteous people are powerful and effective.  Lots of believers are praying for rain.  Rain does not come.  This must mean that the people are not righteous enough.   And it is not just praying for rain after years of drought.   In my decades of ministry I have heard many believers ask, "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?  I must not be good enough!"

What if I tell you that prayer in and of itself has no power.   That might shock you and perhaps even disturb you.   But think about it for a moment.   Prayer is not some magical wand that we wave to make things happen.  It is not as if we utter some well worded formula and then, presto, what we asked for we receive.   It is not about the eloquence of our prayers.   We don't have to use certain words or phrases in order for God to answer our prayers.   The power in prayer is not dependent upon how much faith we have or how often we pray.   Well then, in what way is prayer powerful?   I like how C. Samuel Storms put it:   "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 Ear, p. 223)   Prayer is the means by which we tap into the power of God.

In my office I have a power tap!   There are so many electronic gadgets that I use.   My computer and monitor screen, internet modem, telephone, chargers, and more.   Somehow each of these items need to tap into the power that comes from the electrical lines that enter our home.   The power tap is a multi-socket power cord that I use to channel electricity from a single socket in the wall.   The power is multiplied many times over.  But unplug my monitor screen or anything else from the power tap will cause it to no longer work.   It needs to be tapped into the power source in order for it to be effective.  My monitor screen might have a power cord but there is now power in the cord.   The power cord is useless until it is tapped into the power source.

This is why we can say that prayer is powerful and effective.  The power of prayer is the source of the power.   When we pray we tap into this power source.  The source of this power is not our prayers but it is Almighty God.   Without prayer we remain disconnected from the source of all power.   But when through prayer we tap into the power we have can confidence that God hears us.   We read in the Bible: "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)   When we pray accordingly to his will, God will respond powerfully.   At times our prayers seem to go unanswered.  But it is not that God does not hear us.   He has our best in mind (Romans 8:28).   And so we say, with our Lord Jesus, "Not my will be done, but yours be done!" (Luke 22:42)  Bu the fact remains:  God acts powerfully and effectively through the prayers of his people.

As churches we have committed ourselves to tap into this power through prayer.   We know that until we as individuals and churches tap into the power of God we will not see a spiritual revival come.  As individuals and churches we need to foster a prayerful urgency.  

Are you connected to the power tap?  Is your church?   Through our prayers God's power is channeled into our world.   Without our prayers, God's power remains at its source.  Where does God's power need to be released in your life, in your church, in your community?   Well then, keep being plugged into the power.  Pray!   Pray continually(1 Thess. 5:17).   Pray persistently(Luke 18:1).   Pray with all kinds of prayers and requests (Eph. 6:18).    Pray for revival and then see what God will do!   For great is our Lord and mighty in power. (Psalm 147:5)  The power is in the power tap.