As a Man Prays – The Power of Prayer

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

Have you faced situations in your business that money and intellect could not resolve? Have you had your back against the wall?
Do you understand the power of prayer? 

Power of Prayer

Entrepreneurs are known for taking great risks and facing situations that seem impossible. At such times, many entrepreneurs tend to worry or make the situation worse by taking matters into their own hands. As Biblical Entrepreneurs, we have no greater weapon than the power of prayer. Prayer is an open, two-way communication with God that acknowledges our vulnerability while demonstrating our complete dependence upon Him and our submission to His will for our lives. When we are faced with impossible situations, prayer is often the only weapon that is cost-effective, accessible, and yields results.

There are many examples in Scripture of individuals who demonstrated their dependence upon God through prayer.

When faced with the responsibility to succeed his father, David, as king of Israel, Solomon felt inadequate. But instead of worrying, Solomon turned to prayer, so God made him the wisest and richest man who ever lived.

“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” – 1 Kings 3:7-9 (NKJV)

Moses, while leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, was being chased by the most powerful army of his time. He took a path that led the Israelites to a dead-end – they had Pharaoh’s army behind them, and the Red Sea in front of them. In such dire circumstances, Moses prayed to God. As Moses followed the instructions that God gave him in response to his prayers, the Red Sea parted, and the Israelites crossed on dry land, while their enemies, Pharaoh’s army, were drowned.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” – Exodus 14:15-16 (NKJV)

After Jesus ministered to a multitude of people in a remote location, the disciples were concerned that the people would go away hungry. Jesus told the disciples to feed them, but they responded that for the entire crowd, there were only five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus simply turned to His Father and prayed for a miracle of provision. God responded by multiplying the five loaves and two fish, and Jesus and the disciples were able to feed about 5,000 men, plus women and children.

And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. –Matthew 14:17-21 (NKJV)

As we face spiritual warfare in the marketplace, there is no greater weapon than prayer. It is our most effective offensive and defensive weapon. None of our gifts, talents, abilities, or strategies can be fully effective without prayer.

This is why at the conclusion of Ephesians 6 – the great chapter on spiritual warfare – the Apostle Paul encourages us to pray “… in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18). Amen!

What business situations are you facing today? Is it a cash flow shortage, issues with staff, government issues, or customer problems? Whatever the problem, you can turn to God in prayer. He will give you the wisdom to address it and turn what seems to be an impossible situation into a positive solution.

My prayer for you today is that God will give you the spiritual momentum to activate your prayer life at a higher level, so that you may experience His presence, peace, protection, and provision in the midst of spiritual warfare.