Prayer Does Change Things
“Prayer isn’t working.”
“Thoughts and prayers are nice, but they aren’t going to change things.”
“God isn’t fixing this!”
These are the statements that play out and circulate after significant events such as school shootings and terrorist attacks occur. Mocking prayer has become a pastime. Instead of relying on God of the universe, people lean heavily on what man can do (regulations, training, etc.). For some reason, they are missing the mark and don’t quite realize that with man, nothing is possible, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
The author of the sentiments and statements above are not God; the author is Satan. Every single one of these statements is the opposite of what God says in His Word. Because
“Thoughts and prayers are nice, but they aren’t going to change things.”
“God isn’t fixing this!”
These are the statements that play out and circulate after significant events such as school shootings and terrorist attacks occur. Mocking prayer has become a pastime. Instead of relying on God of the universe, people lean heavily on what man can do (regulations, training, etc.). For some reason, they are missing the mark and don’t quite realize that with man, nothing is possible, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
The author of the sentiments and statements above are not God; the author is Satan. Every single one of these statements is the opposite of what God says in His Word. Because
- He waits for our prayers (Philippians 4:6–7, 1 Peter 3:12, 1 John 5:15)
- Our prayers change things (James 5:14–16, Ephesians 6:18)
- God is in complete control (Luke 12:22–27, Revelation 1:17)
As I’ve been reading this past week through the plagues God inflicted upon Pharaoh and the people of Egypt during the time of Moses, a phrase stood out. It was repeated over and over during all but the plague of darkness and the death of Egypt’s firstborn (see Exodus 7-10).
Pharaoh would say, “No,” about releasing the Israelites, a plague would come (horrible plagues which increased in severity), Pharaoh would ask Moses to stop the plague, Moses would plead to the Lord on their behalf, and the plague would end.
Wait, what? Moses would plead to the Lord on their behalf (the ones inflicting the torment upon the Israelites by continuing to enslave them and deny them the opportunity to go into the wilderness to worship). What would happen every time Moses prayed? The plague would stop. Every. Single. Time.
God required Moses to pray for the Egyptians.
It was God who was in complete control, but He wouldn’t act until Moses did his part. Moses had to go to Pharaoh and make the demands. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God knew how the story was going to play out.
Pharaoh would say, “No,” about releasing the Israelites, a plague would come (horrible plagues which increased in severity), Pharaoh would ask Moses to stop the plague, Moses would plead to the Lord on their behalf, and the plague would end.
Wait, what? Moses would plead to the Lord on their behalf (the ones inflicting the torment upon the Israelites by continuing to enslave them and deny them the opportunity to go into the wilderness to worship). What would happen every time Moses prayed? The plague would stop. Every. Single. Time.
God required Moses to pray for the Egyptians.
It was God who was in complete control, but He wouldn’t act until Moses did his part. Moses had to go to Pharaoh and make the demands. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God knew how the story was going to play out.
The truth for us today is that God still knows how this story is going to play out. He knows what is to come and He is in total control. The question for us today is, are we participating in His plan through prayer? Even when prayer doesn’t appear to be making a difference, I would hate to think what our world might look like today without the prayers of those who came before us (prayers prayed many years ago), and the prayers of today’s people.
Don't stop praying. Don’t let Satan win. Commit to being even more intentional with your prayers. Be specific. Ask in His name for good things to happen. He is waiting and listening.
Don't stop praying. Don’t let Satan win. Commit to being even more intentional with your prayers. Be specific. Ask in His name for good things to happen. He is waiting and listening.
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