Prayer is powerful.  Here are 20 Bible truths that explain what prayer can do for you.

The power of prayer is the power of God. Our prayers move the heart and hand of God.

Since God is all-powerful, there is no limit as to what prayer can do.

Jeremiah 32:17  “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

Jeremiah 33:3  “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

God is able to answer our prayers beyond our imagination!  His power exceeds our capacity to ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20  “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Christians are feeble in their own strength but become mighty when they pray.

William Cowper said, “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon their knees.”  No wonder our enemy works so hard to keep us from praying!

What can you accomplish through the power of prayer?  The Bible gives us many examples.

This article is not an exhaustive study.  It is an overview of the 20 main themes with a supporting verse or two.

1.  Prayer Gives Good Things.

Prayer is God’s requisition system for the believer. 

Psalm 102:17   “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, And not despise their prayer.”

Matthew 7:7–8  “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

2.  Prayer Defeats The Devil.

The Devil wants to destroy you and everyone you love.  The spiritual weapons of prayer and God’s Word can stop him.

Luke 22:32   “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

1 Peter 4:7   “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

3. Prayer Saves The Sinner.

Prayer of salvation demonstrates saving faith in the heart.

Luke 18:13   “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Romans 10:13   “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

3.  Prayer Restores The Backslider.

Prayer can help restore backslider to fellowship with God.

James 5:16   “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

5. Prayer Heals The Sick.

At times, we feel helpless when loved ones are sick and the doctors have done all they can. Don’t despair. We can pray and the Great Physician can heal the sick.

James 5:13–15   “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

6. Prayer Strengthens The Saint.

Prayer is a spiritual exercise that strengthens you.

Jude 20   “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

7. Prayer Sends Forth Laborers.

God sends laborers into his harvest in answer to our prayers.

Matthew 9:38   “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

8. Prayer Keeps From Sin.

Temptation is ever-present in this world.  Prayer offers protection from Satan’s wiles and the deceitfulness of sin.

Matthew 26:41   “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

9. Prayer Accomplishes The Impossible.

Since God is all-powerful, prayer is only hindered by the will of God and the faith of the one praying.

Matthew 21:22   “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Mark 9:29   “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Acts 12:5–7   “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.”

10. Prayer Reveals God’s Will.

God will reveal His will to a surrendered heart that seeks it in prayer.

Colossians 4:12  “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

Luke 11:9–10   “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

RELATED ARTICLE: 50 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT FAITH EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW.

11. Prayer Imparts Wisdom.

Wisdom can’t be bought.  It must be earned through prayer and obedience.

James 1:5   “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

12. Prayer Bestows Peace.

Resting in God’s presence through prayer brings peace to a troubled heart.

Philippians 4:5–7   “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

13. Prayer Glorifies God.

Prayer is so important to God that He gave us these verses.  God is attentive to prayer.  Every answered prayer declares His glory on Earth and in Heaven.

Revelation 5:8   “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”

Revelation 8:2–4   “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.”

14. Prayer Affects Nature.

Prayer can change the weather and affect nature. 

James 5:17–18   “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

15. Prayer Spans Time.

Prayer is not hindered by time.  We can affect things in the future by our prayers today.

Isaiah 38:5   “Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.”

16. Prayer Bridges Distance.

The Israelites were commanded to pray for Jerusalem no matter where they were in the world.  Prayer is not diminished by distance.  We can pray effectually for people, places, and events all over the world.

Psalm 122:6   “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.”

17. Prayer Altars Circumstance.

Prayer changes things.  Jonah prayed and God changed his situation. 

Jonah 2:7–10   “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: And my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

18. Prayer Helps Others.

The Apostle recounted their dangerous trials and told the Corinthian church that they helped him survive and thrive by praying. 

2 Corinthians 1:11   “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.”

19. Prayer Protects from Evil.

Prayer creates a hedge of protection to hinder the evil work of Satan and his minions.

Nehemiah 4:9   “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”

20.  Prayer Demonstrates the Power of God.

In these verses, God raised the dead through the prayers of Elijah.  All answered prayer demonstrates the power and glory of God bringing Him glory.

1 Kings 17:21–22   “And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.”

CONCLUSION

Prayer is powerful! It’s amazing what prayer can do!

No wonder Satan works so hard to keep us from praying!

Would you like to see these things happening in your life?

Make sure you start each day with prayer.