What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

The Firestorm Prayer

When counseling people from God’s Word, we refer to Philippians 4:4-9 as “firestorm prayer.”

(Philippians 4:4-9 KJV) “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Firestorm prayer is the type of prayer you use in the middle of a firestorm of life that you are experiencing. It teaches us that when our minds are consumed with fear, anxiety, confusion, depression, or anger, we can demonstrate our mental stability in the situation because the Lord is at hand or with us. We know this is true because the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit that is in us gives us the ability to do so.

We get ability to overcome the issues of life from the Holy Spirit that God puts in us when we trust Christ as our Saviour (Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30). It is the Holy Spirit that gives us eternal life (Romans 1:16; Romans 8:10-11) and the ability to do all the things that God has called us to do and to live a victorious life (Philippians 4:13). It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to make Jesus the Lord of our life (1 Corinthians 12:3).

When we learn to depend on God’s Holy Spirit, we find the strength to overcome the issues in life because the Holy Spirit that lives in us is stronger than anything else there is (1 John 4:4). Likewise, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:7-9) and bears witness of the testimony of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:7-9; 1 Corinthians 1:18). He, the Holy Spirit, also gives us the ability to understand the deep things of God and the teachings of the Bible (John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16).

Finally, when it comes to power, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that gives us hope (Romans 15:13) and empowers us to share the Gospel with others (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). It is His power that strengthens us and takes away our fears (Psalms 27:1).