If you’ve ever tried to row a small boat with one oar, you know the boat just turns in circles. Steady pulling on two oars moves the craft toward your destination. James stated that, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b). What a wonder that we have direct continual access to almighty God for help in any circumstance! Prayer is certainly more beneficial than one oar in a rowboat. Yet when prayer and praise are combined, the benefit is like pulling on two oars.


Paul taught the believers at Thessalonica to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He and Silas surely prayed as they stood before the magistrates, were beaten and thrown into prison. God gave them strength to look beyond their pain and the discomfort of their feet in stocks to their ultimate victory in Christ. In their darkest hour they combined prayer and praise. The prison doors opened; everyone’s chains were loosed. The same supernatural power of God that set them free is freeing us, too.