What If His People Prayed

Casting Crowns' “What If His People Prayed” asks what would change if believers took prayer seriously. The first verse imagines “the armies of the Lord” picking up their swords, vowing “to set the captives free,” and the church finally stepping up to “stand upon God's promise” and storm “hell's rusty gates.” The title question is then asked in plain terms: “What if His people prayed, and those who bear His name would humbly seek His face and turn from their own way?”

The song gets specific. It asks what would happen “if we prayed for those raised up to lead the way,” and suggests that perhaps “kids in school could pray” and “unborn children see the light of day.” In another verse it wonders about families that turned to Jesus instead of looking elsewhere for advice. The pre-chorus recalls that God has promised to hear, “He's answered loud and clear, if only we would pray.” The bridge quotes the verse the whole song rests on, “If My people called by My name will humble themselves and pray.”

That promise is 2 Chronicles 7:14. The spiritual battle is described in Ephesians 6:12, and prayer for leaders is 1 Timothy 2:1-2.