Power of Prayer

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. – James 5:16

Prayer is powerful. Through prayer, we have direct access to God and the power of His Spirit. In Hebrews 4:16, we’re instructed to “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” One of the most heartfelt prayers in the Bible concerning a future spouse is found in Genesis 24:12-14. Abraham’s servant was praying to find a wife for his master’s son Isaac. It’s the verse after that shows the power of prayer. “Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder” (verse 15). Abraham’s servant asked God if this woman was the answer to his prayer. She was! He then “bowed low and worshipped the Lord” (verse 26).

When was the last time you gave thanks to God for answering your prayers?

God doesn’t always show us the answer to prayer immediately, as he did for Isaac and Rebekah. But that doesn’t mean God is mean, aloof, or inconsiderate. Our response to unanswered prayer is to wait and learn. God is always teaching us if we’re willing to listen. Sometimes He teaches us accountability. Will we be faithful to our future spouse even when we can’t see him or her yet? God wants us to rely on His ways in His timing – not ours. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” Often times, we do a horrible job of making decisions on mundane things that don’t even matter. How much more important is it to rely on a power of prayer for our future spouse?

Prayer brings the hidden things to light (Mark 4:22). Let God work in you, transforming you and your future spouse so that you will both be whole when you finally come together. And while you’re waiting on your better half, remember to pray without ceasing. “And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother” (Genesis 24:67).

Prayer: It’s a great day to pray and seek your will regarding my relationships. Help me to rejoice in confident hope, be patient in trouble, and keep on praying for my future spouse. Keep him/her safe and bring us together in your timing. Amen.