The Power of One Man's Prayer

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16 (NIV)

Charles Finney told the story of a town that had not seen revival in many years--the church was nearly dead. A blacksmith in that town was at work when he felt a great burden to pray for the church. He closed his business and spent the entire afternoon in prayer. He then went to the pastor and asked him to call a church meeting, to which the pastor reluctantly agreed. That evening, the house where the meeting was to take place was overflowing with people. No one spoke at first. Then one man cried out for someone to please pray for him. That cry was followed by another, and then another, until it was discovered that people were under conviction from every part of town. All those who came under conviction stated that it began at the very time that the blacksmith had been praying.