Prayer is one of the most profound gifts God has given us. It's our direct line to Him, allowing us to seek His guidance, confess our sins, and intercede for others. James, the half-brother of Jesus, emphasizes this in James 5:16 (LSB): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." The weight of these words is beautifully illustrated in a story from the life of Puritan preacher John Flavel, a man deeply acquainted with the power of prayer [Illustration taken from Preaching Illustrations from Church History by Ron Prosise].

Flavel faced intense persecution in England, driven from his parish for refusing to conform to the Book of Common Prayer. At a particularly difficult time in his ministry, Flavel found himself on a ship traveling from Dartmouth to London. However, the journey took a terrifying turn when a dreadful storm overtook the vessel near Portland.

With the ship on the verge of destruction and hope dwindling, Flavel did what he knew best—he prayed. Despite the tempest raging around them, throwing the ship from side to side, Flavel called the crew into the cabin and led them in prayer. Holding onto the bedposts for stability, he cried out to God for mercy. His prayer wasn’t just for their physical safety but also for the glory of God’s name. Flavel feared that if they perished, God’s enemies would see it as divine judgment.

Amid this desperate prayer, Flavel’s faith and hope soared. He believed God would answer, even if the answer differed from what he hoped. As he concluded his prayer, a crew member burst into the cabin, shouting, “Deliverance! Deliverance! Our God is a God who hears our prayers!” The wind had suddenly shifted, and the ship was saved.

This story of Flavel’s deliverance reminds us of a similar account in the book of Acts, where the Apostle Paul, also in a great storm at sea, prayed and received assurance from God that all aboard the ship would be saved. Paul’s prayer, filled with faith in God’s promises, resulted in the safe deliverance of everyone on board, just as God had revealed to him.

These stories vividly illustrate the power and efficacy of fervent prayer. You might think, “Of course, everyone prays fervently when facing death!” While it’s true that desperation often drives people to prayer, the examples of Paul and Flavel show us something deeper. Both men understood God’s sovereignty and prayed with faith, knowing that God’s will would prevail.

Paul had received a direct revelation from God that he would stand before Caesar and that everyone on the ship would be saved. His prayer was an expression of faith in that promise. John Flavel, on the other hand, trusted in God’s sovereignty, believing that God would answer his prayer, even if the outcome was different from his desires.

Both Paul and Flavel lived lives marked by prayer. They consistently sought to align their wills with God’s. They navigated the storms of life with a prayerful heart, in tune with God’s purposes.

Wouldn’t you like to have a prayer life that is always in tune with God’s will? As you navigate the rough and stormy seas of life, wouldn’t you like your prayers to be powerful and effective? Whether you’re mature in your faith or just beginning your journey, the desire to pray effectively is a common thread for all believers.

Today, our Lord offers to teach us how to pray effectively, no matter our circumstances. As we learn from the examples of Paul and John Flavel, let us be encouraged to approach God with faith, trusting in His sovereignty and seeking to align our wills with His. The God who delivered them from the storm is the same God who hears our prayers today.