If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

As we look at the importance of prayer in our personal lives and in the life of the church, I’d like to share the following devotional I found, written by Tony Evans, who shares with us the seemingly elusive secret to the power of prayer.

“Have you ever ​gotten​ a key in the mail attached to a letter or on the outside of an envelope? Sometimes car dealerships will mail out thousands of keys to thousands of people in order to try and lure them into their dealership. What they say in the letter is that the key you are holding might actually start a car – and if it does – you get to keep it. You win!

If you drive up to their dealership, sit in the prize car, put your key in and turn the ignition – making it start – your key has just gotten you a brand new car! If it doesn’t start, your key isn’t even worth the price of the postage it took to mail it to you. You might as well just throw it away.

Prayer is like a key. When it is the right key in the right car – amazing things can happen. After all, you are praying to the God who made and owns everything. But too many people don’t know how to use this key. And so they don’t feel like prayer “works” for them – so they throw it away. Maybe they stuck it in the wrong car. Or they tried to open a door with it or a locker at school. And since nothing happened, they assumed it was like one of those keys at the car dealership that wasn’t worth much anyhow.

But God has given us the secret to the power of prayer. And He’s made it plain. The secret to having this key working is Jesus Christ. He is the ignition that this key must fit in for it to work. Listen to what He says: If you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon (John 15:7 MSG).

And in case you didn’t understand what He meant in that verse, read this one: From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do (John 14:13 MSG).

He means it. Whatever you ask for along the lines of who Jesus is and what He is doing – He’ll do it. So, the secret of accessing the power of this kingdom key is not in the number of minutes you spend praying each day. It’s not even in if you pray with your eyes open or shut. It’s not in how many times you toss in spiritually-sounding words like “Father, in heaven,” or “Oh great God.” The secret to accessing the power of prayer is in hanging out (abiding) with Jesus – letting what He says hang out in your heart – and asking for things He wants you to do, have, be and become.

The secret is in where you put this kingdom key – put it in the ignition of Jesus Christ and what He’s doing, where He’s going and what He wants you to do … and you win. He will open the door (Matthew 7:7). He will send the rain (Elijah.) He will part the sea (Moses.) He will show you your way.”