The Necessity and Reliability of Prayer
Prayer as the believer’s lifeline
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16b NLT
The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much (when put into action and made effective by God, it is dynamic and can have tremendous power) James 5:16b AMP.
The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. James 5:16b
I heard an exposition on this verse for the first time in 1987, and it troubled me for weeks. The bible versions used then were the King James Version and the Good News Bible. I have reasons to reflect on the verse several times and have wondered why things are the way they are in our communities, cities, and nations as the “righteous ones (believers)” multiply. Discussion on a righteous person and righteousness may be for another day. However, it is sufficient to affirm God’s word that,
No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Romans 3:20-22 (NLT)
However, there are both divine and human expectations on those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, as that is what makes people righteous. 1John 5:10 succinctly concludes that anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. It is therefore not about what you claim to be but about who you are, evidenced by how you live.
And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 1 John 3:5-10 (NLT)
It is for this reason that I have been burdened by the many prayers of the “righteous ones” in several prayer meetings and crusades, which have not translated to a sustainable community transformation. What are we missing in our prayer meetings, crusades, and vigils? A friend made this social media post a while back, and I keep reflecting on it.
We are like elephants tied to a tiny peg. We can uproot structures, but are restrained by lies. If believers opened their Bibles and discovered what already belongs to them in Christ, 70% of their pleading would disappear, and another 20% would vanish if they knew their authority.
I hope to write on prayers, processes, and actions necessary to shape the culture in days to come. For now, I wish to explore the necessity and reliability (veracity) of prayer.
Prayer is the believer’s lifeline to God. It is more than ritual. It is a relationship. Through prayer, we align with the heart of God, summon His power into our weakness, and gain perspective for our journey. The psalmist affirms, The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18). This nearness is not imaginary; it is real, verifiable in the transformation it produces in the one who prays.
The reliability of prayer is seen in both Scripture and history. Elijah prayed, and fire fell from heaven (1 Kings 18:36–38). That is what we usually hear, but he engaged in a process and took some appropriate actions for the fire to fall (1 Kgs 18:31-35). Hannah prayed, and her barrenness turned into fruitfulness (1 Samuel 1:10-20), but she had to travel to Shiloh. She could have stayed back at home due to the mockery of Peninah. The early church prayed, and Peter walked out of prison escorted by an angel (Acts 12:5-11) because many were gathered together to pray. Prayer works not because of the eloquence of the one praying but because of the faithfulness of the One listening.
Yet, while prayer is powerful, it is not magical. God designed prayer to work in harmony with process and action, not as their replacement.
1. Prayer Is NOT a Substitute for Process
Prayer must never be confused with skipping the God-ordained process. God answers prayer by guiding us through steps that shape us. For example, consider Nehemiah. Before rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, Nehemiah prayed and fasted (Nehemiah 1:4–11). After praying, he sought the king’s permission, gathered resources, organized workers, and supervised construction (Nehemiah 2–6). Prayer opened the door, but process built the wall.
How about Joseph? He interpreted dreams (a gift aligned with prayer), but God’s plan required a 13-year process of pit, prison, and palace to shape his character for leadership (Genesis 37–41). Prayer sustained him, but process prepared him.
Lesson: Prayer brings clarity and divine favor, but it does not exempt us from the refining steps. Skipping the process is like asking God for a harvest without ever planting a seed.
2. Prayer Is NOT a Substitute for Action
Prayer without action produces frustration. James is blunt: Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Prayer fuels faith, but action expresses it. Let’s consider Moses at the Red Sea. He cried out in prayer. God’s response was almost startling: Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea… (Exodus 14:15–16). Prayer opened the dialogue, but obedience in action parted the waters. Even Joshua before Jericho. He sought God’s guidance. God gave him a strategy that required action: marching, shouting, and blowing trumpets (Joshua 6:1–20). Without action, the walls would not have fallen.
Another example is Jesus, who prayed all night before choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12-13). However, He still acted by calling them by name and walking with them in ministry. Prayer informed His choice, but action made them disciples.
Lesson: Prayer without action is like asking God to feed the hungry but never lifting a hand to share your bread.
Final Reflection
Prayer is indeed necessary. It is truly powerful. It was never meant to replace diligence, wisdom, or obedience. Prayer aligns us with God’s will, empowers our process, and gives courage for action. This reminds me of a quote attributed to St Ignatius that I heard from my college chaplain several decades back: pray as if everything depends on God, and act as if everything depends on you. When heaven and earth meet in this partnership, the miraculous becomes visible in the ordinary. It is then that we can say the prayer of the righteous (those who are made right with God by placing their faith in Jesus Christ) has dynamic power in its working (AMP), is powerful and effective (NIV), and has great power as it is working (ESV).