We all agree that prayer is important, but have you ever asked yourself why? Go ahead and ask. What answer did you get?
In thinking about prayer I always thought it was about changing things. That’s true, but in reality, it’s all about what changes. And then the whole element of faith has to enter into the equation. Perhaps another way to look at it is that “faith” changes things and prayer changes something else.
So many times I’ve been in a place where I thought my “situation” needed to change and I prayed about it, but God didn’t change it. He knew that even if He did change it, I’d still be unhappy in some way or another because my heart didn’t change. That’s when I needed to step back and look at the real purpose of prayer.
God uses all situations in our life for one purpose and (I think) one purpose only… to stir up in our heart a need for Him that can’t be satisfied with anything else. And when we do turn to Him in prayer (armed with our faith), that’s when we get to know Him. That’s when we find ourselves becoming content with the situation or circumstances surrounding us. It’s not about seeing things change, it’s about seeing ourselves change.
The scripture that is the foundation of Walk With God Ministries is Rev 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door; I will come in to him and sup with him and he with Me. What it represents to me is that we are our own “doorman” and it’s up to each of us (individually) to open the door when He knocks. He isn’t going to open the door Himself because He knows that it’s a “wise bride” that will open the door and enjoy His presence and company. So, in reality, prayer first and foremost “opens” the door.
But that doesn’t mean that Jesus is then bound to come in under an obligation to answer my prayer. That part of the process is up to Him. One thing is for certain, however, if He doesn’t answer my prayer I can be “absolutely certain” that He has something far better in mind for me. But I will never find out what that is if I don’t open the door. James 4:2 sums it up… you have not because you ask not.
One thing I’ve learned is that there is power in prayer. Yes, it’s true that our faith changes things, but more importantly our prayers change us. And at the end of the day “we” (His precious bride) are far more important to Him than our circumstances. After all, they are just circumstances and they are subject to change. The bigger and far more important question is… Are we subject to change?