We have all seen the phrase ‘Prayer Changes Things.’ Whether you have painted it yourself, seen it on a Facebook post, heard it in a sermon at church, or spotted it on a bumper sticker, we understand the sentiment behind the phrase. While I totally agree with the idea that prayer definitely plays a role in the outcome of certain situations, let me take it a step further. Prayer changes things when you change the way you pray.
How a Sermon by Steve Lerro Revolutionized My Approach to Prayer
As I write this blog, I reflect on my own prayer life and how one sermon changed the way I pray. Steve Lerro was speaking to our congregation one Sunday as he outlined the way each of us should pray. I feel that as adults, we often treat prayer like a child does a letter to Santa. We make out a list of things we want and often neglect to be mindful of the blessings we already have. In Steve’s lesson, he spoke on three elements we should include in our prayers and the order in which we should state them.
- ADDRESS GOD AS THE POWERFUL, WORTHY, HOLY SPIRIT HE IS.
When we talk to God, we are not talking to our neighbor, co-worker, spouse, or acquaintance; we are talking to the Utmost High, the Creator of all living things, the Father of us all. He should be addressed in a manner that shows reverence and respect. I have been in situations where I hear people begin their prayer with ‘Dear Dad’ or ‘Hello Old Friend,’ and honestly, this bothers me. To me, it brings God down to a human level. In order for us to seek His guidance, His forgiveness, and His blessings, we must first recognize Him for the all-knowing, omnipresent, all-powerful being He is.
- THANK HIM FOR THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE
Much like a child making out their Christmas wish list, sometimes we begin a prayer with what we want rather than being thankful for what we have. I feel we often neglect so many blessings we take for granted, such as our health, homes, jobs, and the people in our lives. We must remember that nothing that was created was created without God, and we should be thankful for every blessing we have. Before beginning our ‘wish list,’ we should take the time to be thankful for what God has already blessed us with daily, remembering to thank Him for sending His only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).
- SUPPLICATIONS
Finally, we know that as humans, our first thought is to ask God to do things for us. Whether it is to take the pain away, heal our loved ones, bless us with material possessions, or whatever it is we may desire, we often only turn to God when we want something. While it is perfectly fine to submit our requests in prayer, we should refrain from only talking to God when we want something. We learn in the Bible that even Jesus submitted a heartfelt request prior to the crucifixion. In Luke 22:42, we read that Jesus prayed, ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.’
‘Not my will, but thine be done.’ This verse has replayed over and over again in my head as I pray. It is very hard for us to pray in that manner where we tell God, ‘Your will, not mine.’ But it is at that point we should have the faith to trust His will. God sees the entire picture, while we only see small parts at a time.
A Reflection on My Evolving Prayer Life
I have a habit of praying randomly when I’m dealing with anxiety. It’s been a strategy I’ve used throughout my entire life, not just in recent times. If a storm warning interrupts my TV show, my first instinct is to pray for safety. Similarly, if a loved one needs medical testing, I turn to prayer. In any situation, my go-to solution has been to pray myself out of it. I would ask God to make the storm go away or to have the test results come back normal. However, as my faith in God grew stronger and I gained more knowledge, I realized that I have been focusing more on praying my way out of life’s storms and less on asking Him to carry me through them. This realization changed the way I approached prayer.
My prayers are usually not very well-thought-out. During my prayers, I often get distracted, and my mind starts wandering to other thoughts and places. I typically pray before going to bed at night, but I often fall asleep halfway through. Sometimes, I ramble so much during my prayers that I wonder if God can even understand what I’m trying to say. But then I remember that Matthew 6:8 tells us, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t pray, but rather that God understands our hearts even when we get distracted.
How Prayer Transformed My Perspective on Challenges
There is no doubt in my mind that God answers prayers. Since a childhood car accident in a rainstorm at age 5, driving in heavy rain has made me somewhat nervous. Nights often bring dreams of navigating stormy roads that transform into lakes, forcing me to fight my way out of the water, awakening with gasps for breath. It’s only natural that now when I drive in a storm, I pray. Initially, my prayers sought the cessation of rain, but now I pray for God to carry me through. This shift in prayer alone has significantly alleviated my anxiety.
While it’s true that no one desires trials, I believe that instead of asking God to prevent them, we should implore Him to guide us through them. We should seek increased faith, doubled strength, and thankful hearts in the midst of challenges. It’s conceivable that God places us in situations to impart valuable lessons. I’ve adopted the perspective of ‘Father, if the storm is not meant to pass by me, please carry me through it.’ Life isn’t easy, and we aren’t guaranteed a trial-free existence, but we are assured that He will never leave nor forsake us.
A Personal Encounter with the Power of Prayer
I vividly recall a few years ago, there was a major storm system heading to our hometown. The forecast called for multiple tornadoes and damaging winds. A local church opened up its basement to allow residents a place to shelter should the storms impact the area. My husband, daughter, and I made our way to the church building to shelter in place, preparing for the worst.
Many people, who also sought the church building for safety, were praying that night. After being there for less than an hour, a friend of ours, Warren, pulled up the radar and said, “If that doesn’t tell you the people in Milan are living right, I don’t know what does.” The radar showed a massive storm cell had split just before hitting the town of Milan, TN. Massive storms passed to the north, and massive storms passed to the south, leaving a small dot on the radar exactly where we had gathered, clear from the storm. The power of prayer made several people believe that night.
I want to leave you with a prayer that I often pray. This prayer gives me peace on my most anxious days. I hope you can find ways to pray that afford you the same peace.
Dear God,
Thank you for this day and all of its many blessings. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. More personally, for MY sins. Thank you for blessing me with health, a job, a home, food, and the family who loves me. Thank you for keeping us safe this day and getting us all home safely. I pray, Dear God, that you will protect my family and keep them healthy.
I pray that you will keep them safe. I pray for their spiritual, mental, and physical well-being and that they will be whole in all of those areas, most especially their spiritual well-being.
I pray for Haley and that she will have a safe day at school. I pray that she will have the confidence to use the skills she is learning to make this world a better place for the patients she will take care of when she becomes a nurse.
I pray that she will seek you in all her decisions and that she and Steven will keep you in the center of their relationship. I pray for peace for Jason and the grief he bears. I pray that he will find a way to enjoy life and find happiness again after facing so much tragedy.
I pray for their health as well. I pray for the health of my parents, my relatives, and my friends. I know I sin daily, Dear God, and I pray you will forgive me, and I also pray I can find a way to forgive myself.
I pray, Dear God, that if my prayers are not in line with your will, that your will be done. And I pray that if the storms cannot be removed from my life, you will see me through them. In Jesus name, Amen.
Not all my prayers are that thought out; sometimes, I look at the sky and say, “Thank you.” And HE knows, He knows what I mean.