Tonight, I mentioned to a friend a circumstance that I felt doomed to face and yet helpless to do anything about. I said, "The thing that is hardest to deal with is that there is nothing I can do about my situation." My friend responded by saying, "That's not true. You can do the most powerful thing about your situation. You can pray about it."
My friend's answer showed me how little I believe in the power of prayer. I have found that I am not alone. Ask someone to go on a missions trip where the only "activity" is prayer and they will likely pass on your offer. We have this mindset that missions should be about building something, sharing with people, showing the love of God through practical service but not prayer. Why do the people of God view prayer as such a useless activity?
I should know better. I have seen God's providence and direct response to my prayers. Time and time again, God has proven Himself to me. Oh, why do I still not believe? The only times that God has said "No" is when it was the right answer. God truly knows best He is faithful. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. According to Hebrews, I have access to God's throne room at any time. Jesus opened the doors to me through His work on the cross.
Sometimes I scared of prayer because I know there is no room to hide when I encouter God in truth. Fake prayer can be just as good a cover as any other religous activity. But when I am real with God, He becomes even more real to me. At times, I find myself to be like Adam and Even when they hid because of their shame.
Wick Stansbury, a brother and friend in the Lord, recently said about prayer, "God changes you as much as the circumstances around you." This is so true. We want God to change the other person or our circumstances. But prayer changes us. The circumstance may stay the same. We may just change how we look at it. Sometimes God’s greatest deliverance comes by transformation not transportation.
Talking about His wish list attitude toward prayer, Wick said, “God didn’t want to provide the stuff to improve my life, but He gave something better – His presence.” It can be so easy to look at God as some kind of cosmic Santa Claus. But prayer is not an ATM transaction where we enter in the right code and out pops the cash. I have tended to have a wish list attitude toward God. But God desires something deeper and more intimate. Sometimes prayer looks more like a father wrestling with his son, helping him learn how to take care of himself. Powerful prayer brings growth and transformation.
Oh, God, I am tired of useless prayers - petitions built around my desires and plans. Teach me how to pray transforming prayers. Help to know how to pray in faith because I praying something that is already on Your heart. May prayer be my first response and heart's desire. Thank You for listening, moving and giving Your presence. Amen!
