Prayer Changes Things
11/1/2023
Written by: Frieda Dowler
Prayer is dominant and universal in all religions. Britannica defines prayer as an act of communication with the sacred, or Holy God, gods, the transcendent realm, or supernatural powers.
Instinctively, humans know there is a power greater than themselves. But, Christianity defines that power as God with a capital G because that is His name. It’s personal because Christianity was founded on a visit from God to earth in the human form of Jesus. God revealed himself to humankind as a person, so all could learn to commune with Him again.
From the Bible, we learn God created us to commune with him and take care of His creation. But sin separated us from that purpose. Prayer seeks to restore what we lost in our relationship with God. And since God is a spirit, prayer is the language of the spirit and how we commune with Him.
Hanging in my dad’s workshop was a plaque that read, “Prayer changes things”. It’s a simple statement with huge implications. There are many Bible verses about prayer, like:
“If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John. 14: 14 KJV.
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Mt. 7:11 KJV.
These seem simple enough. Ask and you will receive. But through the years, I’ve come to know this: prayer doesn’t always change my circumstances, but it always changes me. One can’t come into the presence of God without it changing you. These are a few ways it’s changed me.
Prayer Develops Faith
When my prayers go unanswered, especially for long periods of time, I’ve learned God is working patience in me. During the waiting and grappling with the why, God has always provided an answer for me with one of these three:
· He changes my mind,
· He gives me the ability to bear through the circumstances, or
· He allows me to have a deeper or clearer understanding of a situation.
I’ve learned to recount the many answered prayers and stay close to God as we commune about the situation. Because it’s a spiritual process, I can’t define what’s happening, but I know my faith in God increases.
Prayer Develops Trust
It’s my nature to figure things out or make things happen. Because of my nature, when I pray for God’s solution, I have to step aside and trust that the all mighty God of the universe knows how to resolve a situation better than I do. My favorite verse to remember in these times is:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55: 8–9 NIV.
Because of this verse, I trust God knows more about the situation than I do. I learn to rely on the character, ability, strength, and truth of God. I don’t possess enough knowledge on my own to tell God how He should answer a prayer. So I trust Him.
Prayer Develops Submission
Submission is not a popular word in our culture because it implies weakness. It means to yield to the authority of others. But what matters is WHO you submit to. The Bible names several instances where we should submit to others, but that’s a subject for another time. In prayer, I’ve learned to submit to God’s will. When I don’t seek God’s will before I pray, during the waiting I’m reminded to submit myself to God’s will. Then, peace comes.
No matter how He answers, God’s will is supreme in the life of believers. Jesus is a perfect example of submission to the Father. Jesus submitted to God’s will as He was facing his own murder.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Lk. 22:42 KJV.
Another aspect of submission is learning to live with the outcome. If I grumble over God’s answer, I’m not being submissive to His will. I may comply, or passively accept His answer, but grumbling shows I haven’t submitted to His authority.
Prayer Develops Mercy
When God delays the answers to my prayers, He provides mercy for me to bear up through the circumstances. Because of His mercy, I can extend mercy to others.
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36 NIV.
In living under God’s mercy, it is tempting to “fix” a situation. Sara’s husband, Abraham, believed for a son. Sara chose not to live under God’s mercy during the wait, but she chose to fix the situation by offering her maid as a surrogate. She was not acting in the will of God.
God’s timing of answered prayer is not always ours. But I’ve learned that to live under His mercy is a privilege that creates humility.
I have lived long and prayed many prayers. Many of those prayers I don't remember. But the significant ones I will never forget. And during the process of waiting for God’s answer, I have grown close to God as we have communed about life. The spiritual outcome is, I have developed faith, trust, submission, and mercy in the process.