Prayerfulness: Knowing the Power Behind Prayer

by: Micah A. Tecne

At 08:43 AM Philippine Standard Time (PST) of 27 July 2022 (Wednesday), a major magnitude (Mw) 7.0 earthquake shook the provinces in northwestern Luzon and adjacent areas including Metro Manila. It stirred fear and grief to those who felt the shaking and brought us to our knees for our safety and for those who were severely stricken by this calamity - praying that no more aftershocks will happen. In times like these, when our faith is being shaken by uncertainties and tragedies around us, most of us recognizes the importance of having Someone who is superior and all powerful. Someone who is able to save and protect us, greater than the strongest and firmest people, equipment, gadgets, structures and the like. These facts shall bring us to our knees and will allow us to utter prayers towards Him who saves.

For those who felt and were stricken by the earthquake, it was a moment of fear, anxiety and grief. It was a moment that no one ever desires to be in. It is a dark situation where we suffer in all or some aspects of our lives. We face a lot of seasons in our lives and we can’t deny the fact that we, in one way or the other, face dark moments that we can’t run away from. We need to face it head on. Some of us tried to avoid it by relying on our own strength and ability but found ourselves failing and has worsened the situation. Failures that deepens our longing for solutions, interventions, protection, favors and answers. We get desperate that leads us to the last resort --- on our knees.

Through prayer, we align our hearts with the fact that we can’t do it on our own. It brings us to humility and we recognize His existence. It is where we distinguish that He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent (All-powerful) and Omniscient (All-knowing).

 The One whom we call on when we pray is an Omnipresent, ever-present, Father. He will never miss a moment in our lives. He sees us every second, everywhere and anywhere - may it be rejoicing or grief. He sees even that things that we don’t let others see, may it be hidden tears, even hidden sins, all the secrets we have, He sees everything. He knows what we feel and who we are. He sees us and cares for us.   Knowing He is everywhere reminds us that we have an ever-present help in times of need. By praying we acknowledge His presence over our lives that we are convinced that He understands and that He is with us.

The one whom we call on when we pray is also an Omnipotent, All-powerful, Father. It is where we recognize that He is mighty to save.  Nothing is too hard for Him. We might feel that we can’t fix our situation but He is able. Through prayer we feel secure knowing that Someone who never sleeps and slumbers, is able to save and deliver us from anything.

The one whom we call on when we pray is not only Omnipresent, Omnipotent but also an Omniscient, All-Knowing, Father.  David Jeremiah, an Author, said in one of his write up on Prayer that the truth is that in His infinite love and wisdom, God always knows what to give us in answer to our prayers. Prayer does not always change our situation, but it should always change us. In prayer, we bring our anxieties to an all-wise, all-loving and all-sovereign God, and we ask Him why these things have happened and how we can cope. His answer never changes: This world and its answers will never be enough. Only He is enough.
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Knowing that He is always with us, in joy or in pain, we pray. Knowing He is mighty, in uncertainty, we all the more pray. Knowing that His ways and plans are higher than ours, we get on our knees and pray. Prayer is a lifestyle that brings us to a peace that no one could ever bring us in whatever season we are in.