Continuing our month on the promises of God.  And not forgetting the power of prayer.

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17 (NLT)

Recently, I was with a group of beautiful ladies and we prayed together over a dear friend who was going through some struggles.  As we prayed, with some of us laying hands on her and many of us taking turns to pray out loud over her, I became overwhelmed by the intensity and significance of the moment.

I have prayed this way many times, but this time I experienced the joy of glimpsing several beautiful images as we prayed.

Being a lover of powerful stories, the images came as the scenes from the works of  favorite authors.

In Robert Jordan’s & Brandon Sanderson’s Gathering Storm, a scene in the climax focuses on a young woman, Egwene.  She holds a high position of authority but has humbled herself and allowed herself to be held captive.  In doing so, she has, without intending to, positioned herself to be at a pivotal location during an enemy attack on her people.  The enemy that comes against them seeks to take them captive and enslave them.

In the story, the Creator blessed Egwene with the ability to control the elements of her world (earth, fire, water, spirit, and air) and she can use these abilities, this Power, to fight the attacking enemy.  She also has the ability to combine her Power with other women with the same abilities. Unfortunately, during the attack, the only women available to combine powers with are those with little experience and sometimes little strength in the Power.  But it does not matter, because as they combine their Powers, their power increases exponentially.  And provides a formidable weapon against the enemy.

A magnificent scene. Imagine. These women, surrendering to one another, submitting to the Creator, and joining their powers to wage war against the attacking enemy. Taking their stand. Refusing to be taken captive.  Fighting for one another and for others who cannot defend themselves.

The scene played in my mind as we prayed and continued to linger with meaning long after.  We have been blessed with faith and prayer. They are formidable weapons. In surrendering to one another, submitting to our God and joining our prayers, we wield them against the attacking enemy. We stand, refusing to be taken captive, fighting for one another and for those who cannot defend themselves.

That is the power of prayer.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)