A Secret Superpower

Praying does have a bad image.  One mother was afraid to prod her daughter to pray before exams because she thinks her daughter would become lazier and just depend on prayers.  And the old ladies praying daily in church and goes about cursing their spouse and children, gossiping about their neighbors, or maltreating their house helps; what's the efficacy of their prayers as many would wonder.  And the smart alec would say, "we don't need your prayers, we'd rather have your cash."  Then, the activist would say, "we don't need prayers, we need action".  

Still, it makes me wonder why some people end in dissipation while others have a chance to rise up and regain their lives.  God is Just, so it couldn't be just random "time's up, finished or not, pass your paper".  Neither could it be favoritism, "you come from a good family, I will give you another chance".  There is something in people's lives -a hidden factor even from the person himself or herself.  I think intercessory PRAYER is the invisible factor in people's lives.  There are people praying for them.
We ask others to pray for us and our loved ones.  For Catholics, we even ask the saints to pray for us, our loved ones, our country and more.  I wonder who prays for me; But then, I am not really sure who prays for me, only God knows.
But why should intercessory prayers be so powerful to make a difference in people's lives?
Prayer moves people into action.  It allows grace to flow from God to humanity.  And it is love, secret it may be, to pray for someone else - a good will for another.  An invisible helping hand in the trials and challenges in life.

St. Augustine was seeking something in his restless heart.   It led him to relationships, cults, and various studies that left him unsatisfied.  The prayers of his mother, St. Monica for his son was persevering.  Eventually Augustine found what he was looking for in Christianity.

When I see someone whose life changes for the better, I see the love and mercy of God but I also see the prayers that people have said for this person.

Yes, intercessory prayer is love. Pray.