Prayer. Huh.
Let me tell you a story…
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A long time ago…in a galaxy far, far away…ok kidding. Kind of. A long time is 10 years. A galaxy far, far away is Sherman, TX. (any SWBYC people on here will catch this reference #DanDeLeon) The protagonist in this story? A chubby, loud, 13-year-old misfit of sorts. Me.
As a lot of you know, I’m kind of a hot mess. I talk too much. My volume is always maxed out. Sometimes my filter could be put to better use. I’m kind of hard to miss. And lets be real, none of this is new. I pretty much came out of the womb like that. I won’t go into the perils of being a misfit middle-schooler, because lets be honest, for the most part, we were all misfit middle-schoolers at one point or another. But at the end of the day what you had was a kid experiencing the brokenness of the world, and ultimately, the brokenness of herself.
Well, in the musty auditorium known as Ida Green on the campus of Austin College, I finally realized that my hot-mess of a self needed something more than I could muster on my own. There had been so much time spent thinking “if only I looked like her”…”if only I was as smart as him”…the list could go on forever. I was my own worst enemy. I learned an everlasting and soul-restoring truth that night. I trusted in a God who was so much bigger than any obstacle I could ever face, and so much more loving than anything I had ever experienced on this side of Heaven. I finally understood that there was a God who so radically wanted a relationship with my hot-mess of a self, that He sent His Son to die on a cross for my sins. He loves me that much.
As worship song after worship song played, it’s as if God was speaking right into my ear. “Child, enough running. Enough tears, enough pain. I’m here.”
…so I prayed.
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And how does that prayer look different than my prayer does today? In fact, should it look different? Should prayer ever look anymore glorifying or desperate than it does at the moment of salvation? Does my prayer life today reflect the fervent and relentless pursuit of God on my life? Do I return His love with acknowledgement, both in my life publicly and privately in prayer?
Does prayer even matter?
That’s a lot of questions. Let me dive into just that last one.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7
“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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” -Matthew 6:9-13
“Pray without ceasing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:17
So scripture says it’s important, right? These are only a few references to why prayer matters. My thoughts on the subject are rather useless when stacked up to God’s word.
But some of you might think that scripture doesn’t matter. That it’s outdated, antiquated, doesn’t apply to us today. What about miracles that really do happen today?
My squad has been so faithful in praying for one another on a daily basis. We have what we call prayer chains, where we throw a post on our squad Facebook page, saying who we’re praying for. The idea is whoever is prayed for, then comments with another person who they will intentionally pray for that day, and the chain continues. It’s a beautiful thing to see the body of Christ in action.
Since we’ve started this, countless members of my squad have reached financial deadlines for the race, some slowly and steadily, and others through large, generous, seemingly miraculous gifts. Breakthroughs have happened personally and in the lives of our friends and family. Spirits have been encouraged and uplifted. Our eyes are off of ourselves and on the God who makes all things new.
So…does prayer matter?
It mattered to me 10 years ago in Ida Green auditorium when I trusted in Christ. It matters to my squad as we make intentional efforts to pour into each other on a daily basis. And it is so crucial to each of us growing closer and deeper into relationship with the God who loves us so deeply.
Do you pray as if prayer matters?
