We’ve all heard this phrase multiple times, especially those immersed in church culture. I’m a believer, no doubt, but recently I dug a little deeper and pondered what makes this statement so true. PRAYER WORKS.
Did you know that prayer works, not just because God answers in the way we envisioned?
Spoiler alert, I won’t wait until the end of this blog post to get to my main point. Prayer works not because we get what we request. Prayer works because when we pray, we get to build a personal relationship with our Creator and Father regardless of the outcome.
James 4:8 says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” The best way to draw near to Him is through prayer. When I think about my favorite Bible characters – Joseph, Moses, Sarah, Hannah, Job, David, Mary (any of them) – no matter how flawed or sinful they were, they all had deep relationships with God through prayer. And He blessed them because of their faith.
By the way, being blessed didn’t mean they always got what they wanted when they wanted it. Also, an answered prayer can be no or not yet, and they are just as powerful. Sarah was a senior when she received her yes for a child. Joseph seemed to be on a downward spiral for years before he was elevated to second in command in all of Egypt, which he never requested. Job lost his entire family, all of his wealth, and his good health, despite his obedience and faithfulness to the Lord. Amid all their hardship, God was building their faith in Him through their prayer lives. That, above all, is what blessed them.
Each time David found himself in hot water, which was quite often, He was comforted by His conversations with His father. Sometimes His situation didn’t change. For example, he prayed that God would spare his first son’s life, despite the adulterous relationship that led to his son’s conception. God chose to take that son’s life, but David’s faith in God did not waiver. And God continued to elevate him despite his sins.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:4, 8 (NLT)
This scripture in the book of John perfectly describes how and why prayer works. You may ask, what does it mean to “remain in me”? I believe God is asking us to “remain” in His word (learning and studying Him through scripture), “remain” in His commands (being obedient to the Word), and most importantly, “remain” in His presence (speaking and listening to Him through prayer). When we do these things, we will embody His Word and become more like Him. That is how He “remains in us.”
Ultimately, we are to take our lead from Jesus. Even though Jesus was our Father Himself in human form; even though Jesus was perfect in every way and knew no sin; even though He knew everything that would happen before it happened…He still prayed, constantly. He did it because He knew the power of it, and He wanted to set an example for us.
Whether or not we receive what we request, I want you to know that prayer has great power. It comforts us; it releases us from guilt and shame; it cleanses us; it calms us; it heals us; it strengthens us; it renews and restores us; but above all, it further tethers us to the One who is sovereign over all things.
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