Does Prayer Actually Work?

Peter and John were heading to the three o'clock prayer service when a man lame from birth was being carried to the Beautiful Gate to beg. They had somewhere to be, on time, and they could have just walked past — but they stopped and talked. The move of God starts when we slow down and bring Jesus into situations. The man expected gold, because he couldn't work and money was the end goal — food for the next meal. But prayer gave him something far bigger. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. When we pray, God brings healing that changes an entire life, not just this tiny moment. Always ask for God's will to be done, not your expectation. And when someone is standing in front of you, stop, talk, pray — don't say “I will be praying for you,” actually pray right there. And sometimes that person is in the mirror.

“In the name of Jesus” is not a phrase we add at the end of a prayer to make it work. Jesus' name carries authority because Jesus has complete authority. When I use my card, it has my name and my bank's name on it — the bank has authority to move funds exactly where I am standing. A piece of plastic with my name on it is worthless. Our prayers have the authority of the living God behind them: the God who spoke creation into existence is here to bring new life into any situation. That is why Peter said, “What is so surprising about this? Why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?” The devil sinned by wanting to be recognized and worshiped, and he wants us to fall into the same sin of not giving God the full glory. So pray — and make sure you point toward Jesus: “O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you are God.” Whenever you pray, call on the authority of Jesus and point everyone towards Jesus.

Peter prayed and the man was instantly healed. Not every prayer is instant. We are called to be prayer warriors — if you pray for someone, keep praying for them. Elijah trusted God's promise, climbed to the top of Carmel, and sent his servant to look toward the sea. Nothing. Seven times he said, “Go again.” On the seventh time: a cloud as small as a man's hand. Elijah prayed because he trusted God's promise before he saw the evidence. James says Elijah was “a man just like us” — the Greek word is homoiopathēs, someone with the same human limitations, emotions, and weaknesses as us. Elijah was not a prayer superhero; he was a human being who trusted God enough to pray. Peter and John trusted that the same Jesus who healed, forgave, delivered, and restored people during His earthly ministry was still alive and still had authority. Elijah didn't give up when most people would have been disappointed.