73. Q&A: Are My Prayers Powerful?

Have you ever wondered, Are my prayers powerful? Maybe you’ve prayed for something and it feels like nothing is changing, or you’re questioning whether you’re “praying right.” You’re not alone in this struggle. In today’s episode, we unpack why prayer might feel powerless at times, what truly makes prayer powerful, and how to pray with confidence and faith, no matter where you are on your journey with God.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

1. Why Do Prayers Feel Powerless Sometimes?
• Unrealistic expectations: We expect immediate results, but God’s timing is not ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
• Disconnected relationship: Prayer is meant to be a conversation, not a transaction (John 15:5).
• Doubt and fear: Worry can overshadow faith (James 1:6).
• Distractions: Life’s noise can drown out our focus on God.

2. What Makes Prayer Powerful?
• God’s Presence: Prayer connects us with Him; it’s about relationship, not results (Luke 5:16).
• The Holy Spirit: The Spirit intercedes when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26).
• Faith and Surrender: God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
• God’s Will: Prayer aligns us with God’s plans, which are always best.

3. How to Pray With Power (5 Practical Steps):
1. Pray Scripture: Anchor your prayers in God’s Word (Philippians 4:6-7).
2. Be Honest: Share your fears, doubts, and desires with God (1 Peter 5:7).
3. Create Space to Listen: Prayer is as much about listening as it is talking.
4. Pray With Others: There’s strength in corporate prayer (Matthew 18:20).
5. Trust God’s Timing: Even when answers seem delayed, He is working.

4. Encouragement for the Listener:
• Your prayers don’t need to be perfect—God treasures your sincerity.
• Even when it feels like nothing is happening, trust that He is working behind the scenes.
• Like Hannah in 1 Samuel 1, waiting on God often leads to His greater purposes.

Reflection & Application
• Take Action This Week: Choose one practical step to deepen your prayer life, such as praying a scripture or sitting quietly with God.
• Reflect: What’s one area of your life where you’re struggling to trust God in prayer? Bring it to Him honestly.

Closing Prayer

“Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers, no matter how small or uncertain they feel. Help us to trust Your timing and rest in Your presence. Strengthen our faith and remind us that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Connect With Me
• Join the conversation in our Facebook group.
• Share this episode to someone who may benefit from it, leave a review, and reach out with your thoughts and prayer requests! My email is: hello@alexandraalvarezcoaching.com.

Thank you for listening! Remember, prayer is one of the most powerful ways to connect with God—keep showing up, and trust that He is always at work!

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Transcript

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Welcome back at our curious for cries, Wednesday, Q and a session. I have a question for you. Have you ever found yourself asking. Are my prayers powerful. Maybe you've been praying for something for a while, and it feels like your prayers aren't making any difference. You might be wondering why, despite your efforts, it seems like nothing is changing. Or perhaps like many of us you've struggled with feeling like your praise are too weak, too uncertain or not enough. If you're someone who feels anxious about whether you're praying right. Or if God even hears you. You're not alone. Today I'm going to impact this very question are my prayers powerful. And explore why we may feel this way, what truly makes prayer powerful and how you can pray with more confidence and faith, no matter where you are. On your journey. Welcome to Curious for Christ. Do you ever find yourself lying awake at night, wondering about God's plan for your life? Maybe you wake up with big dreams, but feel unsure where to start or what your next step should be. If you're curious about exploring your faith and finding purpose, then you've come to the right place. Hi, I'm Alexandra. I too felt lost, unsure of the direction my life was taking. I yearned to understand my purpose and have someone guide me. But I kept telling myself I was too busy, the timing wasn't right, and my lack of clarity prevented me from being consistent, until I found Christ. He brought peace into my life and revealed the way to find purpose, by anchoring myself in Him. In this podcast, we'll journey together exploring the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of Him and cultivate your own personal relationship with Christ. So open up your Bible, put in those earbuds and listen up because God is speaking to you. He is making everything new and you don't want to miss it. Let's get started. Section one. Why do prayers feel powerless? Sometimes let's explore for reasons. Number one. Unrealistic expectations, which is expecting immediate results or specific outcomes. Isaiah 55 verses eight through nine says, so my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways. My ways declares the Lord. Number two. This connected relationship with God. Sometimes we can view prayer as a transaction rather than a conversation. Or an opportunity to spend time with God. John 15 verse five says apart from me, You can do nothing. Number three, doubt or fear. When we let worry overshadow faith, James one verse six says, but when you ask, you must believe and not doubt. Number four. Overwhelming distractions. When we focus on life's noise instead of God's presence. So I assure you that feeling this way is normal and doesn't mean that your prayers aren't being heard, section two. What makes prayer powerful. Here are four truths about prayer. Number one. God's presence. Prayer is about being with God, not just getting answers. For example, Jesus often withdrew to pray, even though he was the son of God. As we can see in Luke five verse 16. Number two, the holy Spirit's role. The spirit intercedes when we don't know what to say. Romans eight verse 26, number three, faith and surrender. Prayer is powerful because of who God is not because of our words. Second Corinthians 12 verse nine says my grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. And number four God's will prayers align us with God's plans, which are always better than ours. Section three, how to pray with power I've uncovered five practical steps. Number one, prescriptive. Use the Bible as your guide. For instance. Use Psalm 23. If you wish to pray about comfort or Philippians four verses six through seven for anxiety. And if you don't know what scripture to use, reach out to me. Email me at hello at Alexandra Alvarez, coaching.com or. Send a question on the Facebook group at bit. Dotel. I tell why Ford slash curious for cross community. Praying God's word helps us focus on his truth. That's why it's so important. Number two, be specific and honest. Share exactly. What's on your heart. Even doubts and fears. In first, Peter five verse seven says cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Number three, create space for listening. Prayer. Isn't just talking. It's also listening. For instance, you can sit in silence after praying and ask God to reveal his thoughts. Number four. Pre with others. There's power in corporate prayer. Or you can ask others to pray for you. It will require you to be vulnerable and to express to others what you're going through, but it's powerful. Matthew 18 verse 20 for where. Two or three gathered in my name there I am with them. Number five trust God's timing. Prayer works on God's timeline, not ours. There's a great example in the Bible in first Samuel one, which is Hannah story, Hannah desperately prayed for a child. She poured her heart to God. But for years, she remained childless and it led her to feel despair and frustration. She even faced misunderstanding from others. And Eli, the priest initially thought that she was drunk while she was actually praying fervently to God. It must've looked messy, probably she was sobbing and tears. And what else? She must have been shaking. I don't know. But despite her feelings of inadequacy and unanswered prayers. She continued to trust in God. Imperfectly, but she kept on praying. She kept showing up and eventually in his perfect timing, God answered her prayers by giving her a son, Samuel who would go on to become a great prophet in Israel. This story. Beautifully illustrates how God's faithfulness often unfolds in unexpected and miraculous ways, even when it feels like prayers are going unanswered. And sometimes. The longer we wait, the deeper God works. And it's in those seasons where it feels like nothing's happening. That's when God is actually shaping something far greater than we could imagine, or even pray for his work in the depths of our hearts. And circumstances prepares those for his perfect plan. It's not just waiting for the sake of waiting. God is working. Even if we do not see it. And when we trust his timing, it allows us to take a step back. And see his faithfulness that unfold in ways that exceed our understanding. We cannot bypass that my friend. Sanctioned for. I want to encourage you, my friend, if you feel like your prayers are in powerful, remember this. The power doesn't come from you. It comes from the God who hears you. Even your weakest, most uncertain prayers move his heart. He loves when his children come to him, no matter how messy. Or small, their words feel. So I want to encourage you to release the pressure of perfect prayers and focus on. Connection with God instead. So as we close. Let's recap what we've learned today. We explored why prayers can sometimes feel powerless. Like when we have an realistic expectations or approach prayer as a transaction, rather than a relationship. Or let doubt and fear overshadow our faith or get distracted by life's noise. We also uncovered the truth about prayer and God's power. That prayer connects us to his presence, that the holy spirit intercedes for us when we don't have the words that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. And that prayer aligns us. With his perfect whale. Finally, we talked about practical steps to pray with confidence and faith, praying scripture, to focus on God's truth, being specific and honest with God about what's on your heart. Creating space to listen to him, praying with others, for strength and encouragement. And trusting his timing when the weight feels a long. So remember your prayers don't need to be perfect. God treasures your sincerity and loves when you come to him just as you are even at even when it feels like nothing is happening. Trust that he is working behind the scenes, preparing something greater than you could ever. Imagine. Let me pray for you. Lord. I pray for everyone listening today, help them to know that you hear their prayers, even when they feel small or weak. Strengthen their faith and remind them that your power is made perfect in their weakness. Teach us all to trust your timing and rest in your presence. And I prayed all this. In the name of your son? Jesus Christ. A men. So, let me challenge you to take one of the practical steps this week. Which one would it be? Would it be praying a scripture or sitting quietly with God and here, listen to him. Share your experience with me in the Facebook group community, or by leaving a review, I'd love to hear from you. Let me know how I may help you. And if you'd like to go more in depth, Understanding what keeps you from having this amazing relationship with God, trusting his timing, having the peace that surpasses understanding let's talk. Go to bit. L Y Ford slash cures for crisis recovery. Book a call with me and let's talk, let's make this year, the year where you Fogo all your doubts once and for all at the foot of the cross. And you sit with God. You enter his peace. And from this place. You see life in a whole different light. I thank you so much for listening. Let me remind you. Prayer is one of the most powerful way to connect with God. So pray fervently this week. Until next time. Hi, and thank you for joining me for our Wednesday Q& A. Clarity is key, so if you have more questions about God, the Bible, faith, or how to apply it to real life situations, please Feel free to email me at hello at alexandraalvarezcoaching. com. It's hello at alexandraalvarezcoaching. com. A L E X A N D R A A L V A R E Z coaching. com. And if you're enjoying the show, I'd really appreciate it. If you could leave a review, that's how I know what's resonating with you. So just go to Curious for Christ on Apple podcast or Spotify, Scroll down and click write a review. Don't forget to follow the show so you're notified when our next Q& A is out. Thanks again and I'll see you next week.