Reflections

The joy of prayer

Purim is finished, but always leaves a message of joy, hope and faith in God.

The exaggerated cry of Purim is the sound of triumph, the sound of the victory of God and his people! The Fast and the prayer of Esther and her people, makes me reflect on the power of prayer.

Never, we must subsist this force, the gift that the Lord has left us.

James 5: 16-18 declares, confess your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The prayer made by a righteous man can be greatly in its effects.

Elijah is also an example that tells us the power of prayer. Praying, asking not to rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.

God definitely listens to prayers, and gives us answers through them.

Jesus taught: For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Pass over hence, and it shall pass away. Nothing will be impossible for you, (Matthew 17:20).

Prayer is communion with God. Through it we communicate with God in a very particular way.

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 tells us: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God, to destroy strongholds. In it we are sure that God walks with us, and that He fights for us! ever!

Psalm 107: 28-30 reminds us: Then in their distress they cried unto the LORD, and he delivered them out of their distresses. He made the storm cease, and the waves calmed down. And they rejoiced with the good; and thus, led them to the desired port. God is always available to us, in all circumstances!

The Sacred Scripture is full of narratives that show us the prayer being performed in various situations, for example:

Defeating the enemy (Psalm 6: 9-10), conquering death (2 Kings 4: 3-36), healing (James 5: 14-15) casting demons (Mark 9:29) …

God, through prayer, opens the eyes, transforms hearts, heals the wounds and gives wisdom (James 1: 5).

Prayer sustains the Glory of the Lord!

May God make us to be people of prayer, to be intimate as He is, to approach us and say:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Erika, Novice (NDS)