At the course that I attended this summer in Sorrento, BC, this passage from Philippians was part of our reflection. The thing that really touched my heart at the time was what an amazing thing it is to know that somebody is praying for you. I am aware that there are people in this congregation who pray for me every single day, and I am grateful for every one of you! Prayer is a powerful force.

            At the same time, I try to hold all of you in prayer – especially those in positions of leadership and those where I am aware of specific needs. While I don’t always manage it perfectly, it is part of my calling to be praying for all of you. For prayer is a powerful force!

            At the same course this summer, we were reminded of what can happen when God’s people pray. In fact, all through the book of Acts, we find stories of amazing things that happen through the power of prayer.

            In Acts 4, God’s people are praying, and the Holy Spirit shows up! Those who believe in Jesus are gathered together and are praying for boldness in the face of persecution – boldness to proclaim the good news about Jesus and to share God’s healing power in the name of Jesus. And as soon as their prayer has been uttered, the whole place is shaken, and they are all filled with the Holy Spirit and are empowered to speak God’s Word with boldness (Acts 4:31).

            A little bit later in Acts, Peter is arrested and thrown into prison, and King Herod plans to put him to death after the Passover is finished. “While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him” (Acts. 12:5). The night before Herod was going to bring Peter out and execute him, an angel appears while Peter is sleeping and leads him out of the prison, as the chains miraculously fall off and the gates open of their own accord.

            Once Peter realizes that he is, in fact, free, and this is not a dream, he goes to the house where the believers are gathered together and are praying for him. Humourously enough, they don’t believe at first that it is Peter who is standing there knocking at the gate. Perhaps they weren’t expecting such a direct answer to their prayer! However, ultimately Peter is set free and then goes to stay in a different district for a while.

            In Acts, they pray, and Pentecost happens. They pray, and the Holy Spirit is poured out on them. They pray, and Peter is miraculously freed from prison. They pray, and God answers!

            While we might be tempted to think that things were different then, the power of prayer has not changed. When prayer is aligned with God’s will and empowered by the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus, it is indeed a powerful force.

            Yet, I suspect that some people are afraid to pray or perhaps don’t think that they can do it properly. Perhaps we have a tendency to overcomplicate things.

            Prayer can be as simple as breathing in the light of God and God’s healing power and allowing it to fill us up and to overflow. Prayer can be repeating a word or a phrase to centre ourselves in God’s love and in God’s presence. Prayer can be simply saying “Jesus” plus the name of a loved one. Prayer can be an everyday conversation with God. However it is that we pray, there is great power to be found in prayer.

            I do give thanks for all of you, and especially for your prayers!

                        In Christ,

                        Pastor Lynne Hutchison