The Most Powerful Weapon

Grandson Brett came into my office today while I was studying with his latest creation - an arrow that he had constructed out of Trio building blocks.  (The blocks are actually pretty cool.  I confess to playing with them myself - that is with the grandchildren, of course!)  The arrow was simply the latest in a long line of  missiles, bombs, lasers, guns and other weapons that he fashions.  Inspired, I asked Brett if he knew what the most powerful weapon was.  It really piqued his interest.  He wanted to know.  As he eagerly anticipated the answer I told him it was prayer.  "Prayer?" he said with a puzzled look.  "How can prayer help you against a gun?"  How's that for a practical response!  Anyway, I told him that prayer is our most powerful weapon because the God we pray to is all-powerful.  He listened and took it in.  Later we quizzed his dad on the most powerful weapon.  Charles asked Brett whether it was a physical weapon, like a gun, etc, or not.  When Brett said it was not, Charles guessed prayer.  I think Brett was impressed.

This is what we believe, isn't it?  Or do we?  I just heard a Christian recently tell me that of course we need a strong defense in our country because obviously no country could rely solely on prayer.  I say, "Why not?"  The Bible records numerous times when God helped the Israelites win battles after praying.  Granted, they still had an army, but that's not the point.  The point is that prayer is far and away our most powerful weapon!  Unfortunately it is also our most neglected one as well.  Far too many Christians turn to prayer only as a means of last resort instead of their first option.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus, who was God's Son, was a man of prayer.  He also encouraged us to be people of prayer.  Just a couple days ago I read these words in John 14:14 - "You may ask me for anything in My name and I will do it."  What is the key word?  Anything.  The question is, do we really believe this?  If we truly believe that God will give us anything that we ask for (provided that we ask according to His will and not for our own selfish means) why don't we pray more?  Why don't we ask for greater things?  Why isn't prayer our number one resource and weapon?  I don't know, but I am sufficiently challenged to prove to my grandson that prayer is, indeed, the most powerful weapon that we have.  I want him to see evidence of this in my life as well as in his!

O Lord, forgive me for taking prayer so lightly!   Help me to pray first, to pray in faith, to pray for great things, to realize just how powerful prayer really is.  In Jesus' name, Amen.