The Impact Of Our Prayers
Why pray?
When I was a child, I sometimes viewed prayer as if it were a magic wand. Sometimes, I wonder if we still see prayer as a magic wand.
We know that “faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Our prayers are steps of faith, hope, and trust.
We pray because our God listens. In Psalm 116:1-2, the psalmist writes, “I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear]
my voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs). Because he has inclined his ear to me, I will pray as long as I have breathe.” (AMP).
Think about that: the God of the universe turns his ear to hear you, to pay attention to you.
I have a picture of a loving parent stopping whatever they are doing and bending down on their knee to listen and pay attention to their child when they speak.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer (1 Peter 3:12).
Our prayers produce results. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops” (James 5:16-18).
Our prayers can make a difference in our nation. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 encourages us — “I urge you first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
Prayers can bring forgiveness. In 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Should we pray for our enemies? In Luke 6:27-31, we are instructed to love our enemies, pray for those who are against us, and “offer the other cheek.”
This passage concludes with the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do unto you.”
Through prayer, we can talk to God, ask for help, pray for others, express thanks, pray for healing, and ask for forgiveness. When we pray, we make a difference in our families, communities, and relationship with God.
A few years ago, I was facing a difficult medical diagnosis; I went straight to God, appealing for his healing and favor. After a journey of prayer and being prayed for, I was healed. My experience reminds me of the widow and the unjust judge; the widow kept knocking, seeking, and asking, and her request was granted (Luke 18:1-8).
Our God is the God who listens, forgives, heals, brings peace, brings hope, and answers prayer. I encourage you to keep seeking, knocking, and asking.
During the month of February, we will have four weeks of focused prayer:
February 4-10 — Local State and Federal Leaders
February 11-17 — The Body of Christ, Local Churches, and Christian Ministries
February 18-24 —Singles, Married Couples, and Families
February 25-29 — Local and Global Partners of Worship Center
Click below to subscribe to our email prayer list. Each Sunday in February, you’ll receive an email that will guide you through praying over the focus for that week.