Several efforts were put forth in this recent election cycle to get people out to vote. One of them emphasized the power of one vote, reminding citizens that their one vote matters and can make a difference.
Historically speaking, this is true. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson was elected President by one vote in the House of Representatives after a tie in the Electoral College. In 1824, Andrew Jackson won the popular vote but lost by one vote in the House of Representatives after a deadlock in the Electoral College. In 1868, President Andrew Johnson was Impeached but not convicted because the Senate was one vote shy of the necessary two thirds required. In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes won the presidency by one electoral vote. Other examples could be given to prove that one vote makes a difference.
Indeed, one person has the potential to wield great power with their vote. However, I want to apply the same argument to a more important question – can one prayer make a difference?
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
Sometimes Christians fall into the trap of thinking they don’t matter. “God is too great and too busy doing important things to care about me.” David once expressed this kind of attitude. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). He learned such an attitude is not correct. God knows who we are and cares about us.
This inaccurate idea about God can be combined with a low estimation of the power of prayer. Some see prayer as a last resort or something that can be done by those who can’t do anything else. When these and other ideas prevail, a Christian can ask, “Does my prayer really matter? Can my one prayer make a difference?”
The Bible gives positive examples of the power of one prayer.
James uses the prophet Elijah as an example of effective, fervent prayer. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:17-18). Elijah was a mighty prophet, but in the example given, he was praying as an ordinary person of faith (“with a nature like ours”). He was one person, but his prayer turned a nation upside down and ultimately resulted in the defeat of the prophets of Baal.
When Israel sinned with the golden calf, God was determined to destroy the entire nation (Exodus 32:7-10). Moses interceded on their behalf, asking God to spare them (vs. 11-13). His one prayer worked. “So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people” (v. 14).
Hannah was in deep sorrow over her inability to bear a child for her husband. In the bitterness of her soul she prayed to God for a son (1 Samuel 1:10-11). “The Lord remembered her,” she conceived and had a son (vs. 19-20). Although she was praying for herself, the prayer of this one person was very powerful and resulted in the birth of a great leader for God’s people.
Daniel prayed to God concerning the return of the Jews from captivity (Daniel 9:1-19). This one prayer reached God and was answered. The angel Gabriel was dispatched to assure Daniel that his prayer was heard and to give him understanding (vs. 20-23). The prayer of this one person was effective.
These examples prove the power of prayer, yet we may still need help appreciating how our prayers can accomplish anything. Consider an exchange between the Lord and His apostles. “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’” (Luke 17:5). This was a noble request and has application to the subject of prayer. Faith is essential for prayer to be effective (James 1:6-8).
The Lord did not respond by laying His hands on the Apostles and granting them a greater measure of faith. He did not send them off on a quest to gain greater faith by overcoming challenges. Instead, He challenged their thinking by replying, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (Luke 17:6). He didn’t tell them they needed more faith. He told them they could accomplish great things if they would simply use the faith they already possessed. How many of us need to learn this lesson from the Lord?
For Christians who are limited in what you can do – you can still pray. Your prayers have great power. For those Christians who are still active and have numerous opportunities to serve the Lord – you need to pray.
Does my one vote really make a difference? I don’t know, but I vote. Does my one prayer really make a difference? Yes, I know for certain it does! That’s one of the reasons I pray.