Prayer. Does it really make any difference whether or not I pray?

There are many reasons we might have for not praying.
I can handle this one by myself...
God wouldn't be interested in my small problems...
This is too much to ask...
It didn't seem to work last time...

But we need to stop thinking of God as a genie in a bottle, which we rub when we want something. God is not a magician who grants our wishes. God is our creator who loves us, and desires to have a relationship with us. Prayer is our way of slowing down and spending time with God, telling our deepest needs and concerns to Him.

I believe God has many good things He wishes to give to us, if we will only ask.

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." -- Matthew 7:7-8

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What difference does prayer make? I have experienced times when I know for a fact that God has answered my prayers. Other times, I'm not too sure about. There have been times that my prayers have been answered, but they weren't answered in the way that I wanted. I have come to believe that God does listen to prayer and He does answer prayer.

There are things that have happened in my life that let me know that God is present and that the does hear and answer prayer. I look at how He healed my marriage. I see how He sent my son a friend who was desperately needed. I see how He has answered my prayers that I become a vessel through which other people see Him, although sometimes it may be difficult for others to see.

There was an event recently where a coworker of mine died from the injuries that he received in a car crash. As my friends and I gathered at the hospital, we prayed that he would survive. He had sustained massive head injuries, and it did not look good. We prayed hard. When doctors told us that if he survived, he would be permanently disabled, we were devastated. He could conceivably be dependant on a ventilator and 24 hour care for the rest of his life. I then realized that I may not be praying for the "right" thing, if that makes sense. Of course, we all wanted him to survive, but did we, and he or his family, really want that kind of life for him?

At he same time, yet another coworker was struggling with a failing kidney. His family had been praying since December that a suitable donor be found. Tests were done on quite a few candidates, but there was no match. As the one coworker lay dying, his family decided that they would donate his organs when he passed away. Tests were done on the other coworker, and it was a perfect match. It seems that God had plans for both men, and although the prayer that he survive his injuries wasn't answered, the prayer that one coworker not suffer, and that another find a suitable donor, were answered.

I have come to see that God does answer prayer and that prayer does matter. I used to think that it didn't, because when I asked for things, I didn't see a clear response to my prayer. God works things according to His plan, not mine. When I realized this, it became easier for me to see how God has worked in my life and how He has answered my prayers. In Matthew 7:7-11, it is promised to us that we will be given what we ask for. I have learned that I need to be quiet and listen to God, and then I know that He is near and listening.

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All through the Bible is the proof that Prayer indeed works. From the very first book in the Old Testament through to the last book we find references to prayer.

Genesis 18~God hears prayer. Abraham intercedes for the righteous of Sodom. (20) The Lord tells Abraham, "I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorra, because their sin is so obvious." (32b) And the Lord replied to Abraham, "Then I will not destroy it for the sake of ten."

Joshua 10:12-15~Joshua prays for time. In front of all the people of Israel Joshua prays, (12) "Let the Sun stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies...(14) there has never been a day like that one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer.

In Luke 11:9 ~ Jesus states, "So I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.

Does Prayer make a difference? Oh yes, it is said to move mountains. Does it work? Absolutely! Ask any survivor of a disaster, who lost everything but by some means got a new start. An organ recipient, who was on their last hope but unexpectedly gets the surgery needed to get their life back. Or the individual who isn't sure which path to take in their life, but the urge to go a certain way leads them to a life that is better.

"The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me, I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation." Excerpt from Psalms 91

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Does prayer work? I've been asked this question so many times, by people in painful and difficult situations in their lives, who see no reason to pray.....by people who doubt the benevolence of God even on the best days....by people who simply don't understand how time could be well spent talking to someone we can't see.

The example from my own life I often use to illustrate God's presence when we pray is from several years ago when I was studying in a foreign country. I was lonely, scared, homesick, and in the middle of the trauma of culture shock. As I wandered down Spanish streets, running errands before class, I found myself praying.

"God, I know You're here with me. I know You are, but I just wish I could see You. I wish I could have some kind of proof."

With tears in my eyes, I was waiting to cross the street when a man--an American man--asked me for directions. As we waited for the light to change, I gave him the directions he needed and talked to him about how we both came to be there. As we talked, I discovered he was from my hometown. He knew all about the places I was longing for.

Someone with no faith would say this was a happy coincidence. Having just prayed to a God who I knew loved me and wanted to comfort me in my time of distress, though, I knew it was something more. I knew my prayers had been answered.

The beauty of prayer is that once you see it work, your faith in it builds and your desire to do it grows. All we need is a little belief that God is there, He hears us, and He cares about the things we care about.

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Is it okay to doubt the power of prayer? After a week of devotions and hearing other people's opinions on the subject, you might still be left wondering, "What's the point?"

The good news I have for you is that I think that is okay. I don't think God wants us to blindly accept what other people say. What He wants from us is for us to believe what He says, and He explicitly tells us that He wants to hear from us through prayer.

If you are having trouble believing in the efficiency of prayer, though, you might have trouble knowing what to say or even wanting to do so. My advice to you is this: tell God. Tell Him you don't know what to say. Tell Him you don't understand it all, but that you want to. Ask Him to help you get it.

God is always listening, and even when our prayers are awkward and skeptical, He is anxious to reply.

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