The power of prayer is real. As Christians, we should all be praying. It’s central to our faith. Yet many Christians don’t pray.
I used to fall into that camp. I felt like prayer was silly or somehow mystical. Like you’re praying to a magical genie asking for fame and money.
It didn’t seem to make much logical sense.
Then things changed. Life seemed too hard, and everything I tried seemed to blow up in my face. I felt at my wits end, unable to press further.
The trouble was I had been doing everything on my own. Sure, I believed in God, read the Bible, and attended church weekly. But there was something missing in my every day walk.
I wasn’t asking God for help.
Amazing things start happening when you trust God. I can’t explain it any deeper than it just happens.
Like suddenly you surrender all you efforts and let God work through you. Prayers are answered in surreal and surprising ways.
To be sure, the only way to experience the power of prayer, is to pray.
Power of Prayer – Unhappy
I had been unhappy with my job (which always feels like the case). But the trouble was I didn’t know how to leave or what I wanted to pursue. All I knew was I didn’t like where I was and wanted to do something different. And because I was so unspecific, it tortured me even more.
I felt like I’d be stuck in horrible jobs for the rest of my life. Like somehow I had made God mad and this was my punishment, much like Adam listening to Eve and eating the apple – being sentenced to a life of toiling the land.
I didn’t know what to do, other than to grumble in my misery.
But thankfully, God always has a way to bring you to your senses.
Power of Prayer – A Book
A pastor recommended The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. Batterson is a pastor in Washington DC, who was inspired to draw prayer circles around his city. The effects it’s had on his community is staggering.
The book is a must read. It’s summarized as this: “Drawing prayer circles around our dreams isn’t just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It’s a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us.”
It really made me rethink what I was praying for and why. I had never been challenged to pray in such meaningful ways before.
What’s entirely strange about this whole experience, was my wife had visited Ebenezers Coffeehouse in DC the week prior. She wanted to check out a trendy coffee shop attached to a church, only vaguely aware of The Circle Maker book. And she went way out of her way too, taking a much too expensive Uber and wasting tons of time. She bought me a shirt, which I wear proudly.
It was then shockingly brought to light when God shoved in it our face, saying: “Hey, you know that coffee shop you just visited? It’s important. Read this book, idiot.” Sometimes God is rude, but he has to be, because we’re morons and only respond when we’re yelled at.
I’m not one to seeing meaning in pointless coincidences, but this was one of those goosebump-tingling moments. It was all so random. And we were visiting a church we didn’t normally attend. It felt ordained.
So I began to pray, in real and meaningful ways. Besides, I was already a fan of morning routines. And I journaled.
Power of Prayer – Uncertain
I didn’t know what I was praying for, and it was all ridiculously unclear, but it essentially went like this: “Get me out of this job. I’d like anything different. Either something with a higher paycheck, no more telephones, or to give me time to write.”
I didn’t know what types of jobs were out there, or what I’d even be good at. But I figured if one of those opportunities were out there, I’d take it.
I wasn’t even applying to jobs. But I began to ask people for what I wanted. (Even though it was vague, at best)
My prayer was for only one of those things (money, phones, write). I’m sure you can guess the ending.
God showed up in incredible ways. He gave me all three things, an amazing job with more money. It was awesome in ways I never thought possible – definitely something I never would have pursued on my own.
And I wouldn’t have got there without prayer. Never.
Power of Prayer – Continues
The story continues. It’s a story without end. I’m still living that story and I’m years down the road at this point.
And it’s not like life got perfect either. Life’s always tough. There’s always struggle.
I’ll leave you with this: You have to be careful what you wish for. Because you’ll get it, and then you may not like what you get. The world can trick you in ways you never anticipated.
But central to this story is the power of prayer. And when you’re able to walk with God and pursue things for his Kingdom, he can show up in amazing ways.
Power of Prayer – Action Steps:
- Read The Circle Maker
- Pray
—
Do you pray? Why or why not? Do you think it’s silly? Can you make time to pray every day, even for 30 seconds?
