How many times have you heard sermons on the power of prayer? Or how many times when confronted with problems or trials we have been told to “take it to the Lord in prayer?” That is some of the best advice anyone could give to a person, especially in times of need. But what of our daily living? Where is the power to “make it through another day” even when there isn’t any crisis or catastrophe lurking just around the corner? Again it is in the power of prayer.

Prayer is our way of staying in touch with our Holy Parent, our Father God. It is the constant companionship we share with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prayer is communion.

Scripture tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” No one can constantly be uttering prayers all day long so how can we accomplish this if our minds are filled with the worries of today and tomorrow? We have to be able to function on a day to day basis. How can we think of God when in the middle of work that takes all of our concentration? Or when we are doing anything that requires all of our attention? How can we keep God foremost in our lives? To answer that we must first understand the nature of prayer.

First, I said prayer was communion. Communion as defined in the dictionary is “a sharing, as of thoughts and/or feelings.” I would like to add my own definition that communion is “the act of deep communication between two or more persons.” And communication can take many forms, not just words, which are just the clothing of our thoughts, but as the dictionary indicated, we can communicate through our feelings also.

And what is the feeling that those who follow Christ are supposed have? Well this is what Jesus had to say. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35).

And again, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). And Jesus proved the greatness of that love when He died on the cross for you and me.

So if we do all things in love, even the love of Christ, are we not sharing this selfsame love with others? And even if we are alone doing some nameless task, if we have the love of God within our hearts, are we not in communion with God? Are we not sharing or communicating our love for God with Him? That is prayer. It is to see with His eyes, to talk with His voice, to hear with His ears, to do as He would do. Is that not loving as the Christ would love? “To share, our thoughts and/or feelings.”

Prayer is faith in action. Or as I like to say prayer is power. The living of the Truths as God intended them to be lived. Prayer is the handmaiden of Faith, and faith can move mountains, even worlds. “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power,” the power of faith. If you had not faith that your prayers will be heard, would you pray? If you thought that God would not answer your prayers what would that say of your faith? You see, you cannot have one without the other.

When Christ faced the greatest challenge of His life, He went to the gardens of Gethsemane and renewed Himself in prayer. Prayer gave Him courage and strength, the determination to stand until the end. If He had not the faith that His prayer would be answered, or even heard, do you think He could have lived the life He lived or do the things He had done.

Prayer is sacrifice. God wants you to put to death the “little self”. That carnal, worldly nature that walks in the “flesh” and not in the Spirit. That part of you that is of the world and not of God. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8).

So we must become a living prayer. By living the Truths and walking in the Spirit. Then you become a testimony to God’s power in your life. You become a constant reminder of what God can do for anyone who will only turn and seek Him. Through sacrificing that “little self” and exalting God we communicate the validity of God’s Truth by living them. I think you would agree that to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh takes sacrifice on our part. But, as the scripture indicated, we do this because we wish to please God. We wish to please God because we love God. And love, God’s love, is a form of prayer. A communion between us and God. And a love that does not show itself in the living of our lives is no love at all.

So prayer is communion or communication with God, an act of faith and a sacrificial way of living. The power of prayer cannot be overemphasized or overstressed. As James, one of Christ’s disciples wrote, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16b).

Prayer is our direct line to God, and you cannot pray too much!! God is a loving father. He awaits eagerly to speak with us, to heal our hurts and woes. It is not He who has forsaken us but we who have abandoned Him. We are the Prodigal Sons, we have but to speak His name and He will be there.

Yes, we can live life in a state of “Pray(er) without ceasing.” We can do anything and everything in a constant state of prayer by doing all things in love and by living according to the laws and promises of God. Prayer is a mighty power, a resource that as of yet is not fully understood or used. Prayer is communion with our God, Lord and Savior. Prayer is being with God in a very real and tangible sense. Prayer is Faith in action!

So love, my beloved friends, with a deep and abiding love. With a love that is Christlike and pure and you will become a living prayer. Powerful and Mighty!

—Author Unknown