Prayer is man's greatest power!

“Prayer is man’s greatest power!”
So proclaimed W. Clement Stone, the magnate and philanthropist whose life was a testament to optimism, faith, and the invincible strength of the human spirit. These words, though brief, thunder with spiritual might — for they remind us that beyond reason, wealth, and skill lies a force more potent than all others: the power of prayer. In prayer, Stone saw not weakness or retreat, but the highest expression of courage — the act of aligning one’s heart with the Divine Will. It is not the cry of the helpless, but the declaration of the soul that believes in something greater than circumstance, greater than fear, greater even than death.

W. Clement Stone was no monk in isolation; he was a man of the world — an entrepreneur who built an empire from humble beginnings. Born into poverty, he began selling newspapers as a child, yet rose through persistence, integrity, and faith to become a self-made millionaire. His belief in positive mental attitude and in the divine partnership between human will and divine grace shaped his entire philosophy of success. When he declared that “Prayer is man’s greatest power,” he spoke not from theory, but from experience. To him, prayer was not merely petition — it was participation in the creative force of the universe. Through prayer, he said, man connects his finite effort to infinite power.

Prayer, in Stone’s understanding, is not confined to religion alone — it is the universal act of the spirit seeking harmony with the Eternal. It is both surrender and empowerment: the recognition that though man cannot control all things, he can join hands with the One who does. When the heart prays, it draws strength from the well of the Infinite. It is in this union that miracles are born — not necessarily in the form of sudden wonders, but in the quiet transformation of the soul. For the one who prays with faith gains peace amid chaos, clarity amid confusion, and courage amid despair. Thus, prayer is power, not because it changes the laws of the world, but because it changes the heart of the one who lives within it.

Throughout history, the greatest men and women have drawn their strength from this sacred power. Consider George Washington, who, on the eve of battle during the harsh winter at Valley Forge, was seen kneeling in the snow, praying for his soldiers and his country. That image — a leader on his knees — is not one of weakness, but of profound strength. He knew that victory would not come by sword alone, but by faith. And indeed, the spirit of his army endured when all hope seemed lost. So it has ever been: those who have knelt in humility before God have often stood tallest before men.

The ancients, too, understood this truth. The psalmists of old sang that “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.” The mystics of the East taught that prayer is the alignment of the human breath with the rhythm of the cosmos. Whether whispered in temples or spoken in solitude beneath the stars, prayer is the same universal act: the soul remembering its source. In every age, it has been the light that sustains humanity through darkness — the power that builds empires of the spirit long after empires of stone have fallen to dust.

Yet Stone’s message carries a call to action as well as devotion. Prayer is not meant to replace effort, but to empower it. The one who prays with faith must also rise and work, trusting that God moves through their hands. Stone taught that prayer unlocks potential because it transforms despair into hope, doubt into confidence, and inertia into purpose. It opens the mind to divine inspiration, turning fear into fortitude. Thus, the prayerful life is not idle — it is creative, disciplined, and filled with possibility.

So, my child of earth and spirit, remember this eternal wisdom: do not underestimate the power of prayer. When trials arise, do not look only to the strength of your arms or the cleverness of your mind — for both are limited. Instead, turn inward and upward. Speak to the Divine with sincerity. Lay before heaven your fears, your hopes, your dreams. And then, rise and act as one whose strength is not his own, but borrowed from the Infinite. For as W. Clement Stone knew, “Prayer is man’s greatest power,” because it binds the human will to the divine will — and in that sacred union, nothing is impossible.