the POWER of prayer.

I have always underestimated the power of prayer. Partly, because I have felt let down numerous times by God in my life. Partly, because I misunderstood the importance of prayer. And partly, because I thought to be a good Calvinist meant I just left everything in the hands of God; prayer said, no prayer said = no change in outcome. No harm no foul, right??

False.

False.

False.

False.

LIESSSSS.

Oh how DECEIVED I have been.

No wonder my prayer life has suffered so much over the years.

I didn't see the IMPORTANCE to it!

This revelation that could have come only from God and not of myself

happened, SURPRISINGLY, at my home church this morning.

I say surprisingly because I haven't heard an amazing sermon there in a while.

Partly, because I'm only there once every two months or so.

But still,

sorry Mom and Dad.

I left feeling convicted.

And honestly, CHANGED.

That this belief system that I'd been holding on so tightly too,

That my prayers really don't matter,

That "what I have to say God already knows so what's the point" mentality,

These things were liessss.

This is what prayer is....

Prayer is three things:

1. Builds relationship with God.

2. Begets peace.

3. Brings results.

THIS is what I have been missing out on.

THIS is why I get anxious so quickly and am having a hard time trusting.

And although I knew somewhat of the first two points,

the third is what I was reallyyyy struggling with.

Do my prayers bring results?

REALLY???

mmm hmmm.

I'm not so sure.

But they DO.

Yes, it is true that God knows all things and there is NOTHING that will change His eternal plan.

But it's ALSO true that prayer brings results.

So how do the two coincide?

It is exactly because of this particular reason...

If God was good enough and sovereign enough and all-knowing enough to already know the outcome of a situation,

don't you think that He is all-of-those-things enough to know that you will PRAY as well?

It is called SECONDARY CIRCUMSTANCES (I think....).

That God may have one thing that He could definitely do (such as allow your friend to die from cancer) but He knew before time that you would pray that this other certain thing would happen (such as praying that your friend lives) happen, so therefore, He already KNEW that He was going to let your friend live, but it was the prayer that helped bring about the result.

Ahhhh.

God is so good.

I will end telling you this story our pastor told us today....

George Whitefield and John Wesley were speaking at a conference one weekend. They ended up staying at the same hotel together that night, and even shared a room. They both were getting ready for bed. John Wesley, believing in the utmost sovereignty of God, got ready for bed and then, began to pray. He thanked God for the destinies of the people that were at the conference and prayed that God would continue to be sovereign and for His will to be done, and then got in bed. John Wesley, believing in the importance of human participation in God's plan, and also in the importance of prayer, saw that George had prayed such a short prayer and said, "Oh George, is this where your Calvinism has brought you to?" And then, proceeded to get down on his knees and begin praying. In the middle of the night Whitefield woke up to find Wesley, still on his knees next to the bed......asleep. He then proceeded to say, "Oh John, is this where your Arminianism has brought you to?"

This moral of this story is not to bring favor to one view of prayer or the other,

it is simply this....

That prayer is important.

Whether you "let your words be few" before God, or come before God with "prayer and supplication, making ALL your requests known to God",

prayer. is. important.

.........And my world has been rocked.

Forever His,

Rachel