When the Lord told Abraham that He planned to destroy Sodom, Abraham prayed. James wrote that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (5:16). We see this to be true in our own lives, and we see this when the angels come escort Lot out of Sodom to safety before the Lord brought destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah for their great sin.
God hears prayer and He answers. Never doubt the power and effectiveness of prayer. Abraham pleaded for Sodom. He first asked if God would save Sodom for fifty righteous people. Then he asked for forty-five, for forty, for thirty, for twenty, and then finally for ten righteous people. We see the great mercy of God as He says He will save Sodom for only ten people.
Nonetheless, there weren’t ten righteous men in Sodom, but Abraham’s prayer did not go unanswered. Lot and his daughters were escorted out of Sodom by angels. There is great power in prayer. Abraham’s prayer didn’t change God’s mind (His mind cannot be changed) but it did allow Abraham to see the mercy of God. Prayer changes us. Keep on praying.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16 [NIV]
Tania Gutekunst 
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