The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ – Luke 18:11-12 (ESV)
Prayer provides us with the possibility of purging ourselves. We can simply empty our spiritual cup and pour out our deepest worries and fears. We can hang on with the hope that God provides us through prayer.
Prayer is about making the powerless more powerful. Prayer is about trust. Prayer is about telling on ourselves and spilling it all to God, hoping that He will hear us and help us. Prayerful people are powerful people.
But there is a problem when one’s prayer life becomes powerless.
Prayer becomes powerless based upon a few factors such as:
- Attitude: I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get (v. 12)
- Boasting is considered prideful. Don’t get beside yourself and lose sight of your true focus during prayer.
- You do not have to say a lot about you since the Lord knows your innermost intentions and desires, especially your sins and trespasses.
- Act like you know that God knows you intimately and wants your submission.
- Approach: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector (v.11)
- You can become powerless by placing the focus on the wrong thing.
- Your focus needs to be on the Savior, not yourself
- Approach Him and His throne of grace with humble submission
- Approach the Lord with your own issues, not comparisons to others
- Actions: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (v. 14)
- Your actions within prayer lead to how God handles your situation and supplication.
- Do you truly believe that God heard this man’s prayer as humble and honorable?
- Allow your actions to show your readiness to receive from God, whether it be rebuke or reward.
Prayer has the power to help us hold on for a little longer and endure our current circumstances. It has the ability to power us and keep us going throughout the day to day. Prayer can help us continue to have an everlasting hope of the eternal.
We will continue to look at the power of prayer over the next few weeks. Look at some Prayer pointers offered through our other posts.
Then take a look at what the Lord says for us to do. He wants us to keep watch. He wants us ready with both anticipation and expectancy, holding onto the hope that only He can offer us. 
Start keeping track of your daily inspirations from God and His Word. 
