“There is no way to get rid of this kind of demon except through prayer.” (Mark 9:29 MSG)
What does Jesus mean when he says this? Did the disciples try to cast out the demons by methods other than praying? Are some types of prayer more powerful than others? What is the purpose of prayer anyway?
Our prayers are often centered around requests. This is how most of us were taught to pray as children. We repeated phrases that we heard others say. We asked for blessings, safety, and healing. We went to church and asked for ‘special intentions’.(The intentions were ours, but we hoped God would take them on as His own.) In time, we learned to confess our sins and add in prayers of thanks and praise. Even though our prayer lives became more elaborate, the primary objective remained the same: to get God to make our lives better.
Through prayer, we have an opportunity to know God. This kind of prayer requires a certain amount of solitude, silence, time, space, and discipline. It cannot be rushed or squeezed in between our other priorities. Repeating words and phrases in a perfunctory manner does not enable us to understand God either. We must surrender our intentions and allow His will to take over. Prayer can be an act of intimacy with God. As we quiet our minds, listen, and draw close, He reveals Himself. His Spirit influences our thoughts and actions. We are no longer the ones who are praying. The power of God flows through us--and nothing can stand in its way.
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