The Power of Prayer

Momma prayed, momma cried, momma laid awake at night.She would fight my battles while I slept awayCause momma knew life is hardwithout somebody on your sideI don't know how, but there is power in the way,The way my momma prayed.
(Words and music by Jeremiah Olson)

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Thank God for the faithful prayers of so many mothers. I believe many times they were used by God to change the course of history. I’m grateful for every prayer that was whispered for me by my own precious mother.

When I think of a mother who had every excuse to be “too busy to pray”, I can’t help but think of one of my of my favorite hero’s, Susanna Wesley.

In nineteen years, she gave birth to nineteen children, nine of whom died as infants—including two sets of twins. A maid accidentally smothered one baby. Another was crippled for life in a tragic accident.

Susanna met her trials with a strong faith in God that she had learned as a child. She was the youngest of twenty-five, born in 1669 to the family of Dr. Samuel Annesley, a well-known and very powerful minister.

No matter what the circumstances of her life would bring, Susanna was committed to caring for her family in the best way possible. Each day before teaching her children, she set aside an hour to herself for Scripture reading and prayer, and then led all her children in singing psalms.

Susanna Wesley raised two of the most powerful ministers of her day. She was the mother of John and Charles Wesley. These two brothers founded the Methodist church. John led many large revivals all over England and across the ocean in America.

Charles was a renowned composer who wrote hundreds of hymns and his songs that are still among the world’s most famous. Songs like “Hark the Herald Angles Sing” and “ O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” just to name a couple.

Prayer is still the most powerful weapon we have been given here on earth, and mothers are uniquely gifted to be both loving nurturers and radical prayer warriors for their children. Only Heaven will tell the story of how many lives were changed because mothers were on their knees.

Heather at the Titus 2 Woman is our host this week for In Other Words.