Christian Writers Circle

Power through Prayer
by Judy Hitson

Matt.6:6 NKJV But when you pray, go into your room and when you shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Can you remember learning to pray as a child?

For me, I was taught to memorize prayers as a child. My first and most treasured memory was memorizing the Lord’s Prayer. It has been a progression of learning to pray the words of this prayer by rote with head knowledge to revelation by the Spirit instructing me to pray. It was wonderful and amazing to discover when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus gave them what we know as the Lord’s Prayer as instructions to teach them how to pray. Ponder this Bible passage whether familiar or new and ask Lord Jesus to teach you how to pray with power by His Spirit. (Matt.6:9-13; Lk.11:1-4)

It wasn’t until I was an adult that I received the Holy Spirit. Then I began to understand power through prayer, learning Spirit-led prayers.

The Bible talks about some prayers as meaningless repetition (Matt.6:7). That was my experience for a long time. Then my prayers came alive and were no longer rote, memorized prayers. It’s been a progression learning to pray, by the Spirit teaching me in the secret place with my heavenly Father to praying corporately with others.

The Scriptures are filled with prayers for us to pray God’s word and instructions to pray in the Spirit.

There is an acrostic you may be familiar with that has been important in my prayer life and to practice with others in prayer groups. It is, ACTS,
A for Adoration – Adore the Lord for who He is, look to Him in the beauty of holiness.
C for Confession – time for quiet reflection. Ps.139:23-24 Ask the Lord to search our heart….
T for Thanksgiving – to the Lord for all He has done, is doing and will do.
S for Supplication – humbly giving the Lord our requests. Seek His will and His way.

 Prayer: Thank You Lord Jesus for continuing to teach us to pray and discover power through prayer by Your Spirit in us. Thank You Father in heaven for revealing that when we pray to You in secret, Your reward is power through prayer. Amen.