Prayer power
The story is told about a lawyer who encountered a crowd in an intersection. Wanting to get to the accident scene, he persistently made his way through the crowd, shouting: “Let me through! I am a relative of the victim!” Upon hearing this, the crowd made way for him, and lo and behold, lying in front of everyone was a dead pig that was hit by a car.
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In today’s Gospel (Lk. 18, 1-8), Jesus teaches us about another kind of persistence—persistence in prayer. Jesus tells us today pray, pray more, and pray on. P-U-S-H. Pray Until Something Happens! “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) This is a reminder for us to be in constant communication and conversation with God. It means we put God above everything and everyone.
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One reason why many of us do not pray is that we have no time. We have time! We just don’t make time or take time because we have personal agenda that we cannot let go of. What if God left you and me out of His agenda? Think about this: “Your most important appointment today is your appointment with God.” And what if your appointment to meet God face-to-face happened today? Will you be filled with shame and regret that you loved Him too little, too late?
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Before I had cancer, I thought I was prayerful already. Cancer has taught me to seek God’s presence in silence and in listening. Many of us pray a lot, but never really experience peace and change in our habits and attitudes. Why? It’s because we really do not listen enough to God when we pray. When you pray, listen to God, don’t give instructions to Him!
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Humility is the key to sincere and unceasing prayer. Sincere prayer stems from a faith in Someone greater than ourselves, and unceasing prayer stems from a firm trust in that Someone who loves us and who listens to us. A bended knee and clasped hands coming from a humble heart is a sight that is pleasing to God.
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Some of the best prayers are the shortest ones. In fact, the best kind of prayer is said in tears, or whispered, or just remains in the heart, unsaid. The bottom line of prayer is faith and trust. A heart speaks to another heart. Beyond formula, beyond form, beyond liturgy, and rubrics, prayer is a relationship, without which prayer becomes an obligation, or just a show, or worse, a joke.
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Times of tragedy and misfortune are times for us to remember God’s power and faithfulness and His ability to bring good out of seemingly hopeless situations. Remember, in our most helpless and weakest moments, the evil one also pounces on us to make us angry, blaming, resentful, or distressed. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
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Thought for the journey: “For every painful experience, the Lord is your healing touch, for every disappointment, the Lord is your certain hope; for every turbulent storm, the Lord is your calming peace. Yes, remember, wherever and whenever, the Lord is with you always!”
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Has it ever occurred to you that you received a blessing, or you pulled through a trial or a sickness, or you found peace and enlightenment, because you prayed, or because people were praying for you? More and more, I believe in the power of prayer that is said, as well as prayer that is shared.
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Let us thank the Lord for people who have taught us to pray, and who have imbued in us the value of prayer. They prepared us to become strong and persevering in our journey. Many of them are gone now, but their effect on us remain. Maraming salamat po for the gift of prayer.
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Think about this: “There are two kinds of being alone—solitude and loneliness. There are people who choose to spend their lives in solitude and have peace, and there are some people who are surrounded by so many people and activities, but still experience loneliness. May the cross be with us in our solitude and in our loneliness.”
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Is there anything bothering you right now? Is there anything dark or heavy in your heart? Bring it all to God in prayer. BTS – Believe, Trust, Surrender. Prayer is powerful. Pray, pray on, pray pa more.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to hold on to You and experience the power of prayer. Amen.
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