By Rev. Junior W. Wimbush
Pastor, Antioch Christian Church (D.O.C.)
I am what some of my colleagues in ministry and others call an “old school” preacher. I believe in the unadulterated Word of God and I believe in the power of prayer. I reflect on the teachings of my forefathers and mothers and recall a time when they would gather and pray until the sweat rolled from their brows. They prayed so hard until you could almost feel the floors shake. It was nothing for someone to call a “prayer meeting.” Someone was sick; a family was in need; a son or daughter was in trouble. The old saints relied on what they knew to work, prayer.
There was a time when the technology we have today didn’t exist. You didn’t have accessibility to phones so that no matter where you were, you could call and gossip or strew news (“strow” as we called it). If you knew someone was in trouble, you didn’t criticize them or get on Facebook and write about them; you prayed for them. I am reminded of the words of a song we used to sing, “I know what prayer can do. It’ll give you power, every hour; that’s what prayer will do.” I’m a witness! That’s what prayer will do.
In the 17th chapter of the Book of John, Jesus is praying for his disciples. He is about to depart from this world to go back to his father. Jesus, our example, is practicing what He had been teaching. He lifted his eyes towards Heaven and began to pray (speak with his Father). In the 9th verse (KJV) he says, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are mine.” As we ought, we should pray for those things that God has given us. We should want Him to protect and cover ALL which he has blessed us with, including those things which we might not recognize as what he has provided. Verses 10 – 11, “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom those hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
Verses 15-20 (NLT) as follows:
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
Let me reiterate the words of the 20th verse. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” Think about it. Jesus prayed on our behalf before we existed.
Prayer will change your way of thinking. It will change your direction. Sometimes we go the wrong way. Then, we need to call on Jesus to show us the right way. Consider Jonah. Jonah 2:1(NLT), Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the belly of the fish. 2. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the world of the dead and Lord, you heard me!” Lord, you heard me! Jonah was in an overwhelming situation. A situation that happened because of his disobedience. However, Jonah did what he knew to work; he prayed. He fervently called to God. What did God do? He saved Jonah.
No matter what your situation may be, God is only a prayer away. Pray! There IS power in prayer.
