Research indicates that more people than not say they pray regularly. Some can’t imagine a day without prayer. And who hasn’t turned to God in prayer at least in a time of great need, even if that wasn’t part of their daily life routine?
Have you ever wondered, “Does prayer matter? Does God really listen to my prayers?” It would be easy to think this way, because answers to prayer are not always immediate. Some of my prayers have taken decades for the right answer to be revealed. Because God gave each of us free will, He cannot force Himself on us; so answers to prayers are often tied to the hearts of those involved. Other answers to prayer are immediate.
And don’t we sometimes think prayers are only answered when God says, “Yes.” But just as we parents denied some of our children’s requests for their protection, our Heavenly Father’s answer sometimes is, “No” or “Not yet.” But I believe what He says in His Word, that He knows and cares deeply about the condition of our heart and our circumstances. He does listen to our prayers and wants most to be with us in our circumstances.
It is a mystery I don’t know that I will fully grasp this side of heaven. God uses prayer to release His power. It’s not that we have to reach a threshold of people praying to accomplish this, but we are encouraged to pray for others and He seeks persistent prayer that is offered in the spirit of trusting Him. This isn’t the obligatory prayer that says, “Well, I hope that does some good,” but rather the prayer of the heart that sincerely believes and that expects that our loving God who cares for us has a plan for us and those for whom we pray. This plan may provide a different solution than that which we ask, but it will be good. It is the prayer that really believes “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Our experience in this journey through Leukemia is that prayer really does matter. God has used the prayers of many people we don’t even know to not only encourage us and spur us on, but to release His sustaining power to endure.
In recent years the revered Billy Graham was asked if there was anything he would have changed in his life. His thoughtful answer was “I would have prayed more.” Not more crusades, more bible study, more giving, or more good works, but simply to have prayed more. If Reverend Graham found this to be true in his life, I wonder how much we miss when we neglect our need to spend time with God.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b
