We are thanking God for the new people we are seeing come to church at our Sunday family service, men’s group and coffee mornings, but above all his faithfulness. When we write on our blog, we always emphasise how important it is to pray. Prayer is the key that will open the doors to any new initiative. Why? Well, it is simple, God is listening to our prayers.
Let’s look at a scripture that show just how important it is to pray to God. Firstly, let’s look at James 5 v 16.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Whose prayers does God hear? Does He only listen to a select group of people—those who seem especially spiritual, never make mistakes, or live perfect lives? The Bible gives us a reassuring answer.
God hears prayer, but that does not mean every prayer is answered in the way we expect. Scripture teaches that there are principles that shape an effective prayer life and help us understand how God responds.
Let’s read it again James 5 v 16.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James then gives us an example in James 5 v 17 – 18, here is the scripture.
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”
This passage is significant because Elijah was not a perfect man. Anyone familiar with his story can see that he had weaknesses and struggles just like we do. Although God used him powerfully, Elijah also experienced fear, discouragement, and moments of failure.
The effectiveness of Elijah’s prayers was not based on his perfection. It was based on God’s faithfulness.
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are made righteous in God’s sight. Righteousness is not something we earn through our own efforts; it is a gift that comes through Christ. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that He hears us and welcomes us into a relationship with Him.
Our confidence in prayer is not rooted in our performance, but in God’s character. He is faithful, and He keeps His promises.
Now let’s look at another important passage in John 15:7, here is the scripture.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
This verse contains both a clear instruction and a remarkable promise.
The instruction is to remain closely connected to Jesus and allow His words to shape your thoughts, attitudes, and daily life. Abiding in Christ means maintaining a close relationship with Him, trusting Him, and following His teaching.
The promise is that when our hearts are transformed by His Word, our desires begin to unite with God’s will. As our thinking becomes more like His, our prayers become more aligned with His purposes. When we ask according to His will, we can have confidence that He hears us and responds in ways that accomplish His perfect plan.
Prayer is not about convincing God to do what we want. It is about growing so close to Him that our hearts begin to desire what He desires. When that happens, prayer becomes a powerful expression of faith, trust, and partnership with God’s purposes.
The good news is that God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who trust Him, remain in Him, and approach Him with faith. Through Jesus Christ, every believer has the privilege of coming boldly before the Father, knowing that He listens, cares, and answers according to His wisdom and love.
How is Canton Community Church growing?
There are many reasons why Canton Community Church is growing. One very important reason is because much prayer from righteous people are being petitioned to God and what you are seeing is God answering those prayers because He is listening to us.
Here is a written prayer asking the Lord to grow Canton Community Church back in October 2024.
A prayer written in May 2025 continuing to ask the Lord to grow Canton Community Church.
Another short prayer (Prayers don’t have to be essays either) written in July 2025 asking the Lord to shape Canton Community Church.
Another prayer written later in July 2025.
Here is a video that shows our family service on 21st of June 2026.
As you can see lots of people turning up and God answering prayers wonderfully, why?
Because a person’s prayer life is not contingent on them being good. It is because it is contingent on God being faithful and God being righteous. If you follow Gods instruction to stay closely connected to Jesus and let His word guide you, your heart will be shaped by His teachings, your desires will begin to match God’s will. As a result, the prayers you bring to Him will be heard and answered according to His purpose.