Prayer Changes Things
83God can change anything through prayer according to His will
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Php. 4:6-7)
Prayer changes things only for God's people because "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Rom 8:26-28). "Everything by prayer" does not mean everything in the universe, but rather "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Pet. 1:3-4, 11). The "life" refers to eternal life. We pray only for the change that has connection to God's plan of salvation.
However this does not mean that we pray only for spiritual things. Prayer will certainly change material things when that change has a spiritual value and benefit.
Prayer is not for satisfying physical and material lusts (Jas 4:3). It does not mean that we cannot pray for material needs. Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses." (Lk. 11:3-4) The main purpose of prayer, however, is to help make things "turn out for salvation" (Php 1:19).
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (Jas 5:16) When a righteous man prays there are more changes than he could ever imagine or comprehend. "And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." (Jas. 5:15) The sick person is not only healed but also saved.
Malaysian Woman received Holy Spirit and Healing through Prayer
Many years ago there was a Christian woman in Kuala Lumpur, West Malaysia who had been suffering from hemorrhaging, the sickness similar to the one who touched the border of Jesus' garment and was healed (Lk. 8:43-48). This Malaysian woman had also spent her family's savings on doctors and still could not be healed. A member brought her to our church and after hearing the full gospel of salvation she believed in the new birth of water and the Spirit (Jn. 3:3-8).
One evening while she was praying fervently at home she was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues. At that moment she also felt the power of God descended on her and pushed some liquid out of her body. After the prayer she got up and saw a puddle of blood on the floor where she had been kneeling. This woman was completely healed from that moment onwards. She and her husband were baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ.
After many months she met one of her former physicians at the town market. The doctor was surprised that she looked so healthy and asked what happened to her. He also wanted to know who had healed her. She said her doctor is the Lord Jesus Christ. The doctor also believed in Jesus and was baptized into Him.
Map showing India, Singapore and West Malaysia
God poured down rain on Indian Village after Ministers prayed
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit." (Jas. 5:17-18)
In 1969 three ministers - Pammal James (Madras, India), John Chin (Singapore) and Paul Wong (Ipoh, Malaysia) were on a flight from Singapore to Madras (now Chennai). During the flight James told us the whole state of Tamil Nadu had been suffering from drought for two and half years. He requested us to pray for rain. When we arrived in Madras we actually saw and experienced how bad the drought was. The land was parched and the river bed had cracks. People did not take baths and were saving the water for cooking and drinking only.
We preached in a soccer field in Pammal Settlement outside Madras. The night after the open-air service it rained only in that area. On the second evening many people who had seen the miracle of the rain and they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. We baptized 69 people in a depression in the river where rain water had collected the previous night. Praise and thank our Lord Jesus Christ in 1969 two new churches - Pammal Settlement and Ambathur were established in the State of Tamil Nadu, India through this wonderful miracle.
God can still perform miracles like what we read in the Holy Bible when we pray to Him in faith. Prayer does change weather conditions.
God changes path of Hurricane Rita after Houston Christians prayed
Following less than a month after Hurricane Katrina had devastated New Orleans another Category 5 hurricane named "Rita" formed in the Gulf of Mexico and had a projected path towards Houston.
On Tuesday September 20, 2005 "Forecasters said Rita could be the most intense hurricane on record ever to hit Texas, and easily one of the most powerful ever to plow into the US mainland".
That same day through email a special prayer request was sent out to all our Church members in Houston and also through the ARK Forum for Christians all over the world to pray for three things. (1) Weakening of the hurricane, (2) Changing the course of the hurricane to an area with no population, (3) No deaths and very little damage.
On Wednesday September 21, 2005 Hurricane Rita had developed into a Category 5 storm and was heading towards Houston/Galveston. Mayor Bill White had issued warning to Houston residents and advised them to evacuate. Millions of Houstonians jammed all the roads from the North to the west.
Map shows Category 5 Hurricane Rita heading towards Houston
Millions evacuated from Houston and jammed the highways
Most of our Church members stayed in Northwest Houston
Many Church members tried to leave Houston but got stuck in the traffic jam, so they assembled in the Lee family home in the Northwest of the city.
On Friday afternoon September 23, 2005 we saw and heard the Television News that Hurricane Rita had weakened to a Category 3 storm and had changed its path. Our family went to our son's home in Northwest Houston. In the evening we held a Bible Study. On Saturday we also held a Sabbath service. Praise and thank God there was not even a raindrop in our area.
God had changed the path of Hurricane Rita and spared Houston
God is merciful to the faithful Christians in Houston and answered our Prayers. Praise and thank our Lord Jesus Christ
God had answered our prayers. (1) Hurricane Rita had weakened (2) The course had been changed and Hurricane Rita made landfall on Sabine Pass, an uninhabited area near the border between Texas and Louisiana. (3) There were no deaths and little or no damage.
Prayer truly changes things. Glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, HalleluYah!
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Great hub! Very encouraging and uplifting to read about actual prayers answered so dramatically! Praise God! Thanks for sharing.
Great hub prayers can be answer
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8)
Great hub. I agree, prayer works wonders. Thanks.
Powerful testimony, thank you!!!!!
Thank you for your deep faith and devotion to Jesus. Your hub testimony is extremely heartfelt. Thank you for adding me as your hub friend. We are also in the same family of God. God bless you always.
Father God is there in our prayers for our loved ones and I believe that through prayer lives are changes and ministered too. We need his great love for us and we need his wisdom and prayer truely changes things for the better and the enemy is thwarted from our paths and we remain and stay victorious thought the power of God and his love for us all of the time not part of the time . Praise his Holy name... Baruck Hashem
HelloPaul Wong,
I am sorry to hear that you injured yourself lifting something to heavy. Well when you were younger it was much easier to do. When we get older we need to be careful if we do not keep ourselves active.
I remember years ago before I became a Christian. Back in the late 50's used to work out at the YMCA with two Jewish weightlifters. One special time we were working out on the Sabbath Day, of course to me this had no meaning yet. Well, I was doing a special lift and hurt my back by twistng my vertabrae which cause a problem with my Sciatic nerve on the back of my left leg. i went to A Chiropracter and he set it for me. I thought that was all I needed. But yeaers later it was still bothering me because of the heavy construction work that I was doing. Finally after fifteen years of walking at a tilt and suffering much pain I went to another Chiropractor. He set it for me but told be to keep coming back for more treatments until it stayed in place . I did that and I no longer have problems with it. This was after I became a Chriatian and believed in healing. Dr. Frank my Chiroprator was a Christian and had a unique gift to heal this way. There was a sign in his office. "God heals here!"We just collect the fee!" I believe him since he had the gift and faith to heal and give God the glory. I have been healed of other problems in which a minister layed hands on me and healed my afflictions. I always stick with God no matter what. I see you are a man of faith and good works and expect God will heal you. Sometimes right away , some times a little later, and sometimes we have to wait like the apostle Paul who had an eye problem. When Paul the apostle is resurrected he will be totally healed because then he will be changed from flesh to spirit. Amen!
We are praying for your healing. Are you healed yet? Don't worry we will keep praying for you along with every one else.
The Lionswhelp
Thank you! Wonderful Hub
As one who lives in a region that is well known for hurricanes, I know their danger; and I remember Hurricane Rita. You have provided not simply Bible texts but the results of prayer in action. Thanks for an excellent hub.
Thank you arkwriter for this uplifting and well needed message!! Prayer does change everything. We may not see immediate results like the ones you have mentioned above regarding weather changes, but as a Christian I believe with fervent prayer and supplication, having faith, even the size of a mustard seed we are able to move mountains. And the examples you have given are astounding. America truly needs to come together in fervent prayer for this country, and the welfare of our future. If all Christians would stand together as one, in unity and prayer, I believe we would see the power of God demonstrated on our behalf regarding our economical breakdown. We now....unfortunately are becoming a country divided. God is still in the miracle working business. We only need to BELIEVE!! Peace n' Blessings!!
A hub that is blessed and a blessing to others. God bless you!
Very interesting, and thank you for the incidents spoken of from your experience. Wow!
Sometimes my friend.... prayers seem not to get answered.
Thank You God and thank You Jesus for hearing my prayers and answering them. Also, thank You for knowing my fears and preventing them from happening through the providence of friendliness from my friends, especially my new friends in one of my classes and also from the four of my other friends too. Also, thank You for letting me have a good time at my extra-curriculum activity in school last night where i tend to feel awkward. Thank You for improving the relationships i share with my friends and for giving me the many opportunities to strengthen the ties we have with each other. :-D
Thank you for this beautiful hub on prayer. Today's reading is about praying so your hub caught my attention. I think it's more than coincidence. God directed me to your hub!
Yes, prayer is really powerful! We have witnessed its power many times before. However, we must also remember that sometimes God's answer to our prayer may not be in the form that we prayed for.
God bless!
I know that God has called me to be an intercessor, and for 13 years I have been in this ministry. Yes, I have pray and intercede for many people..but for my own family, I haven't see any answers on prayer. These days have been a difficult days for me..I'm struggling to keep my faith and to guard my heart. I just decided to keep believe in..
Nice hub. Thanks for sharing. Indeed there is nothing like prayer. It changes things. It moves mountains. It makes the impossible to be possible. Prayer is the key to any door.
Please pray for my son Vince age 45 who has been addicted to alcohol and cocaine for over 10 years. Vince is trying to quit. He's having a difficult time. His health is poor. Vince is a single father of two children Joe 16 and Brianna 9.
Vince needs a healing miracle from our Lord right NOW. He also needs to be blessed financially so that he can take better care of his children.
When he does get blessed financially, let it be after Vince gets totally set free of alcohol and cocaine. In Jesus Precious Name.
Thank you for praying for my son Vince.
Vivian
Vivian, Here is a website of a friend who heals. He has helped many. I will pray for Vince and you and your family.
God is REAL!!!
Beautiful hub and so true about prayer. Prayer is our way to talk to God through his son Jesus Christ. It's the most incredible way to communicate with the Father. I too have seen many answered prayers and continue each and every day to walk and talk with him before I begin my day. Thank you for sharing this hub and the stories, I too had relatives near Houston and was so thankful to God when the hurricane took a different course. Praise God!
Thanks for sharing your testimonies with us because they strengthen my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and for sure they also change other people's lives. God bless you.
Prayer has changed my wife and I's life
Yes Prayer is answered and sometimes when we think it's to late like God did not hear me but then you find out he did and everything you were worried about never came close to happening. Praise be to God Amen
Thanks for this Hub? it was very helpful as I just got a call from a friend who works outside in the Houston heat as a postal person. It's suppose to be a heat index of 106 degrees this week. Please let's pray for all those who this will effect including the elderly, babies, those with health challenges etc. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" (Psalms 24:1) but he gave us dominion over the earth so let us speak to the elements and command the heat to hold back and be still just as Jesus spoke to the storm and it obeyed. (Matt. 8:24-27) Please join us as we pray to that end. Amen
Its a rather touching hub...elevating with its touches and I am encouraged to pray more for change.
Thank you for this wonderful hub that highlights God's power through prayer. I have seen God answer my prayer over and over again! Thanks again for sharing.
Hi
I am past Buys from South Africa in Touwsranten please pray for our ministry to get a 300 seater tent to preach the gospel! And for me to get a job as Area Coordinator !
Thank you
Regards
Past Cedrick Buys
Please pray that God speak clearly to my husband, so that he will has a distaste in adultery with his ex-wife. Pray that God deliver him from sin. Pray that God make Satan flee from this adulterous relationship and keep away from our marriage. Pray that my husband humble himself before the Lord, asking for forgiveness and sanctification. Allow that his thoughts of divorce be immediately stopped. Pray that my husband return to me with love and faithfulness. Pray that God allow him to be strong to tell his ex-wife that she has no rightful place in his life and that he wants to return home to his wife. Pray my strength in the Lord as I wait for God's miracle to come forth. Pray that god bless our marriage until death do us part.
SirDent Level 4 Commenter 4 years ago
This is an awesome hub showing what right praying can do. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.