Words from the Rock
I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you don’t allow. I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.
Matthew 18:18–20 CEV
Jesus makes a powerful promise to his disciples here. It’s a promise for us too, but it only works when we’re connected to Jesus. In other words, we can’t do this on our own—the power comes directly from God, and Jesus is the transmitter. For us to imagine our words can make their way to heaven or that we can receive what we pray for—without being connected to Jesus—is like a table lamp bragging that it can illuminate a room without being plugged into an electrical outlet.
But when we remain connected to Jesus—praying to him, believing in him, experiencing his life in us—we will have this kind of power. We will be able to say and do things on earth that Jesus will stamp with his approval in heaven. We can get together with other believers and pray for God to do miraculous things, and we can be sure that God will do them. He’s God and knows what’s best, so he’ll do what we ask in his time and in his way, but he will definitely move.
Perhaps the best part of this promise is that Jesus assures us that when we get together with other believers (even if it’s only two or three) and our main purpose in being together is Jesus—if we’re there to worship him, pray to him, learn more about him, or study his Word—then he will be right there with us. And when he is, we can be sure he’ll be the one guiding our prayers and our words. We’ll experience his answers to our prayers because of our connection to him.
My Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for promising so much power to me. Remind me that the power comes from you and that I must be connected to Jesus to receive it.
Amen.
Final Word
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
Stone for the Journey
Powerful miracles happen when I’m connected to God.