Do You Believe in the Power of Prayer?   

While crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner, a preacher was asked to address the first class passengers. At the captain's request, he spoke on "Answered Prayer." An agnostic who was present at the service was asked by his friends, "What did you think of the preacher's sermon?" He answered, "I didn't believe a word of it."

That afternoon that same preacher went to speak to the steerage passengers. Many of the listeners at his morning address went along, including the agnostic, who claimed he just wanted to "hear what the babbler had to say."

Before starting for the service, the agnostic put two oranges in his pocket. On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting in her deck chair fast asleep. He noticed that her hands were open, and so in the spirit of fun, the agnostic put the two oranges in her outstretched palms.
After the meeting, he saw the old lady happily eating one of the pieces of fruit. "You seem to be enjoying that orange," he remarked with a smile.

"Yes, sir," she replied, "My Father is very good to me." "Your father? Surely your father can't be still alive!" "Praise God," she replied, "He is very much alive." "What do you mean?" pressed the agnostic. She explained, "I'll tell you, sir. I have been seasick for days. I was asking God somehow to send me an orange. I suppose I fell asleep while I was praying. When I awoke, I found He had not only sent me one orange but two!"

The agnostic was speechless. Later he was converted to Christ!

Do you believe in the power of prayer? If an agnostic can be brought to believe in the power of prayer, then certainly we as God's children should have a great belief and confidence in the power that exists in praying to our God who promises to hear and respond to our prayers. As James wrote long ago, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16).