Last week, I heard a few folks grumbling and asking, “Why pray?” They felt that with everything going on in the world today and all around them, it just wasn’t worth it to be praying, that what was going to happen is going to happen and that what is to come is to come. Me personally, I did not, and I do not agree. Prayer does change things. Honestly, there is evil in the world and there is good, there is hatred in the world, and there is love. Satan is roaming, devouring whom he can, but Jesus is also with us, hoping to save whom he can.
John 14:13-14 (ESV) says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Jesus is saying that He will promise to do the request of any prayer in His name for the purpose to glorify the Father through Him. This means that when a prayer, even though it might have “in Jesus’ name” attached to it, doesn’t fulfill the purpose to glorify the Father through Christ, then Jesus won’t do it. The purpose of prayer does not end in the comfort, safety, and provision for the Christian, but the glory of the Father through Jesus. If a prayer is made that doesn’t glorify God, then it won’t be answered. You cannot be praying and asking God for someone’s death, downfall, bad luck, or the destruction of the world, no, this is what God won’t answer. Understand, God is not a God of confusion, chaos, darkness, or hatred. He may allow much to go on, and if you know the story of Job, then you know that you must praise God through the bad times, good times, highs, lows, joys, and tears, no matter the given circumstance or situation. After all, He does give you free will, does He not? And Job lost it all, his wife even told him he should just curse God and die? But Job being a faithful, humble, and obedient servant, praised God throughout all he endured, and God blessed Job with ten times more back than what he lost the first time.
Prayer is important folks because God wants you to communicate with Him. He wants to know your heart’s desires, your pains, stresses, sicknesses, family issues, or miseries. He wants to know where and what he can mend, and in what areas He can bless you. Therefore, stop believing and procrastinating in thinking that prayer doesn’t work because of what’s going on in the world. If you were a Bible reader, a person who studied their scripture, fasted, meditated, and guess what, prayed, you would know that the Bible is being fulfilled. Daily prayer can bless you, your family, and those you pray for. It can also invite more peace into your life, help you learn more about God’s plan for you.
Mathew 21:22 (ESV) says, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Jesus is telling you with this scripture that you must have unwavering faith in what you ask of Him. You cannot for one minute doubt what He promises you. Never get discouraged when you don’t get a response right away from Jesus. Him making you wait is just sometimes His way of preparing and guiding you to understand His will. Therefore, continue to pray, fervently. Praying will help you develop a relationship with God. He listens to you when you pray, rather sinner or Christian, He hears, and He will answer your prayers in the form of thoughts, scripture, by the actions of other people, or even through spiritual feelings.
As you speak daily with God through prayer, you will start to feel His unconditional love for you, and the scriptures teach you, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Gaining an understanding of God’s loving nature through prayer is an amazing feeling I tell you. Those folks that questioned why pray? Well, here’s the best answer I’ll have for them yet. Because it provides answers. And aren’t answers something you’re always seeking when there’s something you seem to not understand or can’t fathom? Praying and listening to the answers God gives you can help you better understand your purpose in life. God will help you understand why you are here and what you can do to return to live with Him after this life.
Prayer also aligns your will with God’s will. Now I had a hard time at first, believing in this one myself, because I was once in a bad place, and I stopped praying, I stopped seeking God, I wasn’t in my scriptures, nothing, but God was still with me all the way through it, communicating with me, comforting me, strengthening me, reminding me that His grace was sufficient enough, until I got up, weak as I was, bent my knees with tears in my eyes, and started calling out His name in prayer, and the purpose of my prayer in this moment was not to tell God how I wanted Him to do things, but rather it was to “thank Him” for helping me to better understand Him and His ways, and for bringing me into alignment with His will. As C. S. Lewis is often quoted for saying, “Prayer doesn’t change God. It changes me.” And I absolutely agree. If we want change within ourselves, we must work on it, if we want change in the world, we must come together as one, no matter our nationalities, race, creed, age, or gender, and pray for our nation.
Psalm 107:28-30 (ESV) tells us, Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Jesus is letting you know by this scripture that no matter what storms or terrors you face, He’ll calm them and cause your trials to end in gladness. Just believe. And keep the faith. Prayer can work miracles. You see many examples of the Lord working miracles throughout scriptures as an answer to prayer. The prophet Daniel, in Old Testament Times, was thrown into the lions’ den because he refused to stop praying. Angels appeared and closed the mouths of the lions. Through daily prayer, you too can also witness and experience personal miracles such as forgiveness for sins, healing, and peace. Until next time folks, stay blessed and prayed up!!
