Is prayer powerful?

Every once in a while, you might run across a news story or article on the supposed power of prayer. Several reasons may be given why prayer is, in fact, beneficial or is a sham and a figment of people's imagination.

The Christian church for millenia, and Judaism before it, has long encouraged prayer. It's been a part of worship and the private life of thank for people for as long as religion as been a part of their lives. But does it actually do anything or is it all in our minds?

Prayer certainly is a meditative, calming moment in our lives. It gives us a moment to stop, slow down, and focus on something. It can certainly be a benefit to zero in on the heart of our problems and ask our God for help in dealing with or even solving those problems. But is there a benefit beyond the psychological benefits that such relaxation and focus may provide?

God urges his people, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me" (Psalm 50:15). Prayer is powerful, not because it helps us to identify the solutions to our problems that we can enact, but because it calls upon the all-powerful Creator and Savior of mankind to help us. "Nothing," the angel Gabriel told the young Virgin Mary, "is impossible with God." So nothing that we can ask of God is beyond him, and the one who has saved us from our sins is certainly able to rescue us or work good from any trouble or hardship that now afflicts us.

This weekend at Gloria Dei, we will be focusing on prayer in far more depth than we can here in this short post. Join us for a look at the power of prayer in our Bible Class at 9:15am and then stick around for a worship service centered on prayer, and Jesus' encouragement to be persistent in that powerful prayer. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Gloria Dei is a Lutheran congregation at the top of the hill on Ralston Avenue in Belmont. We also operate a full time grade school for grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Visit us at our website, www.gdluth.org, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GDLuth, or on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/GDLuth.