Prayer Changes Everything

Believer,

Sometimes prayer changes things with time, and sometimes prayer changes things in a moment, but prayer always, always changes things ¹. What’s more, what prayer changes isn’t always, firstly, our circumstances, but us and our perspective.

When I was younger, I had a sincere and well-meaning, but weak, view and understanding of prayer — and God, for that matter. From time to time, when a desire or personal petition would loom over my head and I knew I just needed to take it to the Lord in prayer, the unfortunate hurry and distraction of day-to-day life almost rushed me past actually praying because it felt like starting a 3–5 business day process, and who likes to wait? I wanted [thing prayed for] when I wanted it. Surely God won’t answer my prayer in this absolute moment — this feels too insignificant, too complicated, too unanswerable, too layered, too time-consuming. Too much of something that stands in the way of my bowed head and an always-ready God ². Too much for me to get started on praying and too frivolous and trivial for God to tend to. So, why even bother Him with this request? Does He not have bigger prayers to consider? And honestly, I probably haven’t even untangled this request in my own mind, so I’ll wait to pray until I can present it eloquently enough… I’ll get to it later. *A few hours later.* Well, now I just have a stack of things I’ve been meaning to pray about… so now I have to wait until I set aside ample time to tackle this laundry-list of topics and people, because I mustn’t forget anything, and I have to make sure I’m as detailed as possible because I’m worried if I leave anything out I won’t have prayed efficiently — because, because, because… and suddenly I had spiraled and would then sit there paralyzed, not having prayed a thing, because I had such a fundamental misunderstanding of the use, effectiveness, heart, power, and importance of prayer, and I clearly did not know God as intimately as would be necessary to understand how to pray ³. I thought I needed to be longwinded and methodical to be effective in the throne room. So, when I couldn’t be as “thorough” or didn’t have time to pray, it felt like homework was piling up, and then I’d avoid it even further. And honestly, it makes sense — who has time to pray if this is how they’re approaching prayer? It is impractical and unreasonable, and not what God intended a life of prayer to look like. I needed to understand that prayer was purposed to be liberating, deeply relational, and transformative.

And, as graciously as ever, the Holy Spirit thundered through the hurried-chaos of my inner young-adult world to teach, relieve, and assure me that:

1. Prayer is both a relational conversation and a practice that aligns the heart with God’s will.
2. Prayer is not measured in length ⁴, but strength, sincerity, and earnestness.
3. God does not have to try and split His attention to take a listen to my petitions and to those who have more urgent, more important supplications. Big or small, He is always, at all times, actively listening and actively working, and He delights to do so. It is no chore for Him!
4. God knows what I need and what I will ask before my heart forms the desire, my brain forms the thought, and my mouth forms the words. If I can’t spit it out perfectly, He can do without words.
5. No petition goes unheard or unanswered. Whether it be 5 seconds, 5 days, 5 months, 5 years, or 5 decades — an answer is coming. A concession, a rejection, or a call to patience — an answer is coming, and if it looks different than what you hoped for, it’s always for the better.
6. Prayer is never insignificant. It is an offering, expressing your trust in Him by leaving the answer in His hands. It is not barging your way into Heaven with your demands, but an otherwise helpless request from a heart that is solely dependent upon God and His promises. It is the most powerful, available, effective tool in our spiritual arsenal.

The Lord delights in welcoming His children into His throne room ⁵; into His holy presence to hear from them, to commune with them, to bring them deeper, that they may learn to live in His presence, not merely visit, and that prayer may become a way of life rather than an occasional practice ⁶. Prayer is the heartbeat of a Christian life; the lifeline that ties us directly to the Godhead. When it isn’t changing our circumstance(s), it is training us in dependence and humility, in devotion and surrender, confession and seeking counsel, and in worship and relationship; keeping us close to the warming fire of God, lest we languish out in the cold. The joy and assurance that is found in the presence of the almighty God, can only be found in His presence. Apart from Him, there exists only confusion, self-dependence, lack of discernment, and impatience. Any joy and peace apart from Him is this world’s poor imitation of it. It feels good, but leaves you empty, dried out, and malnourished — like there is something, or someOne, missing from your life’s formula.

Spend time with God today. Present your gratitudes, intercessions, and requests ⁷. Sit still. Meditate on the Cross of Christ, the shedding of His blood, and His glorious resurrection that affords us new life and freedom and has reconciled us to God.

If lack of eloquence or perfect, linear thought is preventing you from praying, leave it behind. It is better to stumble your way through sincere prayer, than to not pray at all. Short prayers are long enough; so just speak sincerely… or cry, or let out a sigh, or a gleeful squeal.

Your Father is listening.

For our joy and His glory,

Fior

Quotes on Prayer:

“Prayer has become as essential to me as the heaving of my lungs and the beating of my pulse.”

“You are no Christian if you do not pray. A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.”

“Delayed answers to prayer are not only trials of faith; they also give us opportunities to honor God through our steadfast confidence in Him, even when facing the apparent denial of our request.”

“In all states of dilemma or of difficulty, prayer is an available source. The ship of prayer may sail through all temptations, doubts and fears, straight up to the throne of God; and though she may be outward bound with only griefs, and groans, and sighs, she shall return freighted with a wealth of blessings!”

“It may suit a teacher of English composition to criticize your sentences, but God thinks much more of your desires than of the words in which they are expressed. It may be natural for a scholar to consider the accuracy of your terms, but God specially marks the earnestness of your soul.”

– C.H. Spurgeon

Footnotes:

1. Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ↩︎
2. God is not a genie nor a celestial vending machine whom we can abuse to grant us our every whim, nor is the purpose of prayer to collect dust on your proverbial shelf and be used only when you want something. It is not to be cheapened. Be careful not to reduce it to a vehicle for selfishness. James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” ↩︎
3. I do not mean a rigid, impersonal, and mechanical oratory formula nor am I suggesting anything that makes prayer performative or “good enough”. I am suggesting my need to understand 1) the very God I was praying to, which would 2) teach me to understand the true structure, power, and purpose of prayer. Side note, while we’re here and on the subject: I highly recommend C.S. Lewis’ How To Pray. It is absolutely life-changing. ↩︎
4. Matthew 6:5-13 – “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him…” ↩︎
5. Psalm 145:18 – “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” ↩︎
6. Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” ↩︎
7. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ↩︎