Prayer Changes Everything

Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things he has for us. Indeed, prayer makes it safe for God to give us many of the things we most desire. It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life. We must learn to pray. We have to. Timothy Keller.

Have you taken time to pray today?

Every day we face challenges. Some are minor, some may be difficult to navigate. Some of us may even face life-changing or life-threatening challenges. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the wonderful privilege of coming to God in prayer and surrendering these challenges to Him. In fact, God invites us to come to Him in prayer. This is what Hebrews 4:16 says,

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

God invites us to come to Him in prayer, but when we accept His invitation, we need to come with confidence. We are to come trusting Him with our needs and for His provision.

Our need may be pretty ordinary, like that of a grandfather who saw that his grandson’s obsession with video games was causing his grades to suffer. Nothing that he said to his grandson got through to him until he asked God for the answer. When he did, God placed a word in his mind: “ juggle. God then showed him how he could use juggling to illustrate to his grandson that he couldn’t do all the things he was doing, including his obsession with video games and expect to get good grades. This was his grandson’s response: “That’s a great visual, Papa,” he said. “I never thought about it that way. I guess I can’t.” Soon after that, his grades started to improve.

Our needs could also be dire, as that of a drug-addicted teenage mother living on the streets of LA. She had come to the end of herself, so she cried out to God for help. God directed her to the house where her drug-addicted mother used to live. When she found herself with her baby on the steps of the house at 3.00 am, the door opened. A young woman in a bathrobe stepped out. “Come inside,” she said. The young woman drew a bath for her and prepared a meal for her and the baby. “Stay as long as you like,” she said. “As long as you need. Don’t be afraid.” The young woman told her that the Lord had woken her and told her that there was a girl with her baby outside and that she must bring her in. Through this encounter, she was able to get the help she needed and build a life for herself and her daughter.

Source: Guidepost.org

God answers our prayers. When we are anxious, He will overwhelm us with His peace that goes beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). When we feel hopeless, He will give us His hope that will not disappoint or put us to shame. (Romans 5:5). When we lack provision, He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). When we need wisdom, He will guide us by His Holy Spirit (James 1:5). All we need to do is ask.

Yes, God answers prayer. But what  I’ve discovered in my own life is that God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we hope He will. God is omniscient and knows every aspect of our lives. He sees the bigger picture and knows what is best for us. This could mean that His answer to a specific prayer is, “No.” When God says “No,” it means He has a better and higher plan for our lives. A plan that fits into a pattern for good, not only for our lives, but also for that of others.

Joni Eareckson became a paraplegic when she was just 17 years old. She and many others prayed for healing. However, God did not heal her. But what He did do was allow her to establish a ministry that has helped tens of thousands of people living with a physical disability, especially in impoverished countries, live dignified lives by donating wheelchairs and other resources to help them cope better with their handicap. Her life also encourages many more people who struggle with physical and mental disabilities to hold on to God and to trust Him in the midst of their suffering.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. James 5:13

I would like to challenge you to set aside time each day to pray. To pray for all the challenges you face – big or small. And watch how God answers your prayer. He will answer them in His way and His time when you trust Him and yield to His sovereign will for your life.

We can be tired, weary, and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that he injects into our bodies energy, power and strength. — Charles Stanley

Reflect

Have you taken time to pray today? If you haven’t, why not take time to pray right now? Give your needs to God and trust Him to meet them in His way and His time.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, You see and know the challenges I am facing right now. I do not have the answers to them, but I know that you do. Intervene, Lord, in my situation and meet my every need. I yield to Your sovereign will for me. Have Your way in my life so that Your perfect plan will be established for me and those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.