Let us look at the prayers of a few people from the Bible.

MOSES – “And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.” (Deuteronomy 9:20).

HANNAH – “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:27).

THE LORD JESUS – “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32). 

CORNELIUS – “And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.” (Acts 10:30).

These portions show us that others spoke of the prayers they had made, and often of the results of those prayers.  It is encouraging to others to hear of prayers that the Lord has answered.  We have the assurance of the Lord in 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”  Whenever we pray in accordance with the perfect will of God, He answers those prayers! 

We also see from the scriptures how we can have ALL our prayers answered according to our petitions.  Psalm 37:4 instructs us, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”  When we find our delight in the Lord, it will affect the way we pray and the things we pray for.  We will desire the Lord’s perfect will in all things and will pray accordingly.  When our absolute delight is in the Lord, we will pray according to His will, and He will give us the desires of our hearts.

James 5:17 tells us about the prayers of Elijah.  That says, “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”  This teaches us that we should pray constantly and earnestly about our needs.  Elijah’s prayers produced great results.  When we pray according to God’s will, our prayers will also produce great results.  To share these events with others will surely encourage them in their own prayer lives.

In Mark, chapter 5, the Lord Jesus encountered a man who was possessed with so many demons that he was known as Legion.  The Lord drove those demons out of that man, completely healing him from the effects of his demon possession.  After being healed, the man desired to travel with the Lord in His ministry.  However, the Lord said to him in verse 19, “…Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”  The Lord determined that this man should stay behind and establish a testimony in his own community by telling his friends and neighbors of how the Lord had compassion on him and delivered him from his demon possession. Certainly, his story of deliverance had an impact of those who heard him.  Even so, our testimonies of our prayers and the Lord’s answers to those prayers can have a positive impact on those around us.

I encourage you to continue in your testimony for the Lord.  As we sometimes sing:

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing, O earth—His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;

Strength and honor give to His holy Name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,

In His arms He carries them all day long.

Refrain:

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;

Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!  (CC)  (534.2)