Continual and daily prayer is extremely powerful and a core part of the Christian life, because it allows direct dialogue with our infinitely wise and loving creator about everything we see, feel, wrestle with, are concerned about, are overjoyed about, and need wisdom on. (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Even when we don’t know how to say what we are feeling, the Holy Spirit knows and speaks for us (Romans 8:26).
If God already knows what we will say before we say it, why pray though? Oswald Chambers has some great insight on that point: ““To say that ‘prayer changes things’ is not as close to the truth as saying, ‘prayer changes me and then I change things.’ God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things.” We pray so we can know more of God’s mind, learn more of what overjoys and breaks His heart, and, afterward, be empowered by Him to see the world as He does and live into it accordingly.
With all the pain, destruction, heartache, division, and anger caused by natural, and not so natural, forces in our country and world right now, the loving, merciful, grace-filled, Scripture based, peacemakers who are the true bearers of Christ’ likeness are needed more than ever before to fight back the darkness by shining His light in to the world! As Christians this month let’s be praying intently and intentionally for 1.) continued strength, wisdom, courage, and guidance for our pastors and leaders to stand firm in God’s word and His leading; 2.) pray for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing healing for our nation, families, and friendships effected by everything that has happened in this season of life, and 3.) the courage of Christians to stand up for the Gospel and be echoes of God’s merciful, loving, joyful, compassionate, Scripture based truth regarding all issues impacting our culture and environment now!