PRAYER – WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
PRAYER – WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
BY: Dan Young
Recently I got to experience God’s answers to prayer and subsequent provision first-hand, as I traveled with my daughter’s soccer team to Colombia for a missions trip. We saw how the Lord worked to develop this ongoing ministry; providing land and unexpected finances, as well as changing the lives of many cartel leaders into Jesus following soccer coaches! We came home encouraged to continue asking in faith and praying that God would use us in circumstances during every day life. As Christians, prayer is one of the greatest gifts we have been offered to engage in. In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, we have been invited into intimate conversation with the Creator of the universe. Through prayer, we don't merely speak into the void—we commune with our loving Father who knows our deepest needs and desires.
Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus consistently withdrawing to pray. Before major decisions, in moments of suffering, and in times of joy, Christ turned to His Father in prayer. In the early morning hours, Jesus would slip away to solitary places to commune with God. Before choosing His twelve disciples, He spent the entire night in prayer. Matthew 6:9-11 tells us He spoke to the crowds about daily communication with God. Even in His agony at Gethsemane, Jesus poured out His heart to the Father, ultimately surrendering His will to God's perfect plan. Jesus didn't pray because He lacked divine power or wisdom—He prayed because prayer is the natural response of a heart in relationship with God. If our Savior, who is fully God and fully man, prioritized prayer, how much more should we make it central to our daily walk?
Prayer transforms us more than it changes our circumstances. While God certainly responds to our requests and intervenes in our lives, the primary work of prayer happens within our own hearts. Through prayer, we align our will with God's will, we find peace in His sovereignty, and we grow in intimacy with Him. Prayer also connects us to God's power for daily living. We were never meant to navigate life's challenges in our own strength. When we pray, we acknowledge our dependence on God and invite His wisdom, strength, and comfort into our situations. Prayer is both an act of humility and an expression of faith—recognizing that we need God while trusting that He will provide what we truly need.
One of prayer's greatest comforts is knowing we don't pray alone. Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don't know how to pray. Have you ever felt so overwhelmed that you couldn't find words? The Spirit takes our wordless groans and translates them before the Father's throne. The Holy Spirit also guides our prayers, helping us pray according to God's will rather than merely our own desires. He brings Scripture to mind, convicts us of sin that needs confession, and stirs our hearts to pray for others. When we feel distant from God or struggle to focus during prayer, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray with greater clarity and passion.
God delights to answer prayer, though His answers may look different from our expectations. Sometimes He says "yes" immediately, providing exactly what we've requested. Other times He says "wait," teaching us patience and deepening our trust. Occasionally He says "no" or redirects our requests because He sees a better path forward. The key to confidence in prayer is understanding that God always answers according to His perfect will and timing. First John 5:14-15 assures us that when we pray according to God's will, He hears us and grants our requests. This doesn't mean we always get what we want, but it means we can trust that our loving Father will provide what we truly need for His glory and our good.
Matthew 6:9-11 (ESV) "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.'"
Romans 8:26 (ESV) "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
One of my favorite prayers in scripture is when the apostle Paul is encouraging the believers and the church at Ephesus. He goes beyond asking for any day-to-day needs like health or wisdom or comfort (which is still ok) and truly desires for them to “grasp how wide, long, high, and deep the love of Christ is.” (Ephesians 3: 16-19) Praying for a more robust knowledge and relationship with God so that we can experience the full measure that He promises to offer, in my opinion, is the ultimate blessing that undeniably leaks into all other areas of life.
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a sample of a way to pray. Just begin a conversation with God, and he will honor your desire to engage. Following that example are a few questions to discuss at the next fellowship meeting, or just a few ideas to think about on your own.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of prayer. Help me to follow Jesus' example by making prayer a priority in my daily life. When I don't know how to pray, I trust the Holy Spirit to intercede for me. Give me faith to believe that You hear my prayers and will answer according to Your perfect will. May my heart be aligned with Yours as I bring my requests, confessions, and praise before Your throne. In Jesus' name, Amen.
- How can you make prayer more central to your daily routine, following Jesus' example?
- In what areas of your life do you need to trust the Holy Spirit to help you pray more effectively?
- How has God shown His faithfulness in answering your prayers, even when His answer was different from your expectations?