Prayer Changes Things – But What?

• Posted on sdgale
• in 'CHOP Talk' Blog
• on January 4, 2013
• Comments Off on Prayer Changes Things – But What?

The end of a calendar year brings a flood of communications and solicitations.   I confess that amidst the avalanche that crosses my desk most go unread, many even unopened.

Something in one I did open, however, caught my eye.  It contained a brief article entitled, “Prayer Changes Things.”  The Lord has been working mightily in my life of late stretching me in my understanding and practice of prayer.  That’s been the case personally but also for my role as a pastor in equipping the saints in my care in their prayer lives.  So I was curious to see what prayer changed.

According to the article, prayer changes our heart, attitudes, motives, ambitions.  Prayer changes the church toward greater wisdom, unity and maturity.  Prayer works within.

Amen to all the above.  Prayer seeks God to work in areas and to bring about change that only He can.  Prayer impacts us profoundly.  Through prayer we draw near to God.  It is a means for His sanctifying work in our lives.  We cannot rise unaffected from sincere prayer.

But that’s only part of the change God brings about through prayer.  The rest of the story is that prayer accomplishes great things—out there.  It advances God’s kingdom.  Through our prayer, the Sovereign God changes situations and circumstances.  He changes the course of history, directs the hearts of kings, and subdues people to the saving rule of Jesus Christ. Notice the jurisdiction of our supplications in 1 Timothy 2:1-5, with lofty expectations for our efforts in prayer.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…”

How do our prayers relate to God’s eternal plan? The answer is that God has ordained our freely offered, honestly expressed petitions as his appointed means to the accomplishment of His eternal purposes. Prayer is an avenue by which God enfolds us into the outworking of his eternal plan.  (For more detail see my book, Why Do We Pray?)

To say that prayer produces change does not mean that God changes His mind.  It means that the mind of God has designed our prayers to bring about change, in service to His unfolding decree.  It also means that we need to pray for change.

I don’t want to diminish for one second the thought that prayer changes us as the ones praying.  Through prayer we gain peace that surpasses understanding.  Our courage of faith is bolstered to press on.  Grace is ministered by the Spirit of God to fan the flames of joy in our hearts.

But it’s important to understand the place and potency of prayer in the design of God. God changes the world through the lispings of our faith-fueled petitions.  “Your kingdom come” aspires to nothing less.