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How praying for your family and friends can change lives.

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James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” This statement couldn't be truer. Without prayer, we have no link to God. Without prayer, we are unable to repent of our sins, we are unable to thank God, and we are unable to intercede on behalf of those we love. However, how many of us take for granted the fact that we have immediate and direct access to the Savior? I know I have. It is easy to forget the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. It is easy to forget that we are extremely privileged to be able to speak to God whenever we like. It is easy to ignore the fact that for some people, we may be the only link to God in their lives.

Recently, I have been struggling with a few things. But, instead of taking it to God first, I tried to fix everything on my own. How many of you know that this doesn't work? I put myself in the way of God's will, I didn't ask for his help or advice, I tried to do it all on my own. And...I failed miserably. God often reminds us how big He is and how small we are in comparison.

When I finally decided to take my problem to God, miraculous things happened. He brought me a friend that prays. It may seem small to some people, but I believe what the verse above says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." My friend was able to stand in the gap for me when I was at my weakest. She was able to lift me up in prayer and make a petition to God on my behalf.

How many of you know someone that needs your prayer? How many of you are willing to stand in the gap for your friends/family?

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

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“Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.” 

Mahatma Gandhi

When we pray, we should be seeing ourselves as soldiers. We should be assuming the position of battle. For prayer is, indeed a battle. Think of your unsaved family and friends. You  may be the only one out there praying for them. But, "THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN (WOMAN) IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE". You must believe with faith that God is in control, that He hears your prayers, and that He will answer them in His timing.

James 5:15

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

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Never ever underestimate the power of prayer. Don't assume that your problem is too small or too big for God. He can change lives. He can heal the sick. He can open doors that we've never imagined. But first, as Joyce Meyers says in her podcast about hindrances to prayer, "The number one hindrance to prayer is actually praying." Don't just think about it or talk about it. Get on  your knees and begin to pray. If you're not used to praying and the concept seems foreign to you, take it one sentence at a time. God isn't up there waiting for you to make a mistake. He longs to talk to you. He longs to be close to you. Talk to him like you would talk to a friend. That is, after all what He is. He is the best friend you could ever have.

So, let's all take some time to sit down and talk to our Creator. Let's pray for our friends and family and allow God to do a wonderful work in their lives.