Does Prayer Work for Real? Part 2

After my previous post about prayer, I received an email from a praying woman that I respect and upon whom I depend. She wrote, "Dear Pastor:  I am having a little trouble with what you said about praying, and I need you to give me some of your wisdom in more detail than I see in your message.  At night when I can't sleep--frequently--I pray, and try to pray for people outside of my circle of family and friends. So, last night, I was thinking about those poor African girls who were kidnapped by the terrorist group. The latest I have read about them: The leader of the group informed their families that they have been sold and prostituted out. Then, I wondered if it did any good to pray for them as their fate has already been laid out, and my prayers aren't going to make any difference. Why should I pray for them? Then, l tried praying for my children and the same thought came to my mind.  I need you to help me other than saying it's good for my soul?????"

Wow. For better or worse, here's how I answered...

Martin Luther had 3 simple answers:
1) "Pray because God told you to."
2) "That should be enough, but pray because he also promised to listen. Always." He wants to hear and be there for you.
3) "Finally, pray because God promised to answer."

As I said in my blog, prayer makes us a "part of the whole conversation" of asking and receiving. And my blog on prayer tried to show that prayer is much more than just "good for my soul," but that prayer is the greatest driving power for huge and small things to happen in the world.

God is gracious and includes us, our prayers and our prayerful actions, as part of the power that changes the world. Think about it: You and millions of people pray fervently for the African girls; meanwhile, as a result of all this prayerful attention turned toward them, people and groups and governments and countries and resources around the world have turned their attention on them.

God's Spirit started working from the first cry of the girls, & their families, spreading out to the world. So, it's true that you're not trying to convince God to care; he already does. But God uses your prayers, together with everyone else's prayers to motivate human action in order to do his powerful work.

Second, you pray for your own children in the night. You are maintaining your love and connection, both with God and your children. God hears, agrees, and answers with his own eternal love, which is even greater than yours.  He lovingly holds you, too, while you pour out your heart. His vision and ability to redeem goes far beyond any immediate losses and fears. Part of his (sometimes frustrating) answer is: I know. Wait. Hang on.

I also believe that when you pray for someone, God actually does send his Spirit or some connection at that very moment to that other person, whether or not they realize it. All I'm saying is that you don't have to convince God to care. He already does. He's just waiting for you to talk to him and ask for the help.


Also, look how your prayer led you to take action. For instance, as a result of praying, you sent me an email. That continues the conversation, and led to a response, too! This is God's Spirit at work, from my blog to you, your prayers and email back to me, and now back to you.

Prayer is not one way. It is a back and forth conversation that includes your husband and children, your dog, nature, garden, quilting, ...your whole life. God is always talking to you through these,  and you are always responding back to him, one way or another, with how you live your life.

Finally, what if the lepers never stopped Jesus and asked him for help? What if the people never asked Moses to pray for food and water? Sometimes, (often) God may know what we want, but he doesn't or can't give it or take action until someone asks for it. Sometimes, I might know what Trevan wants, but he still needs to ask. Again, for whatever reason, we are a key part of the whole conversation: praying, listening, trusting, receiving, and thanking. Our prayers can get the ball rolling. If we don't pray, nothing or very little will happen!

The Bible tells about the more dramatic miraculous answers to prayer, and I believe in these... I've seen and experienced them. And they prove my point: If people aren't  praying about it, asking God to help, then very little will ever get done, whether by human or divine power. Prayer drives it.

God has been doing even greater things. He fed Moses' wandering tribe using quail, manna, and water from a rock. However, he has fed whole countries through the Red Cross and LWR! Without concerned, praying people, this would not happen!  Just because they happen through people and agencies and governments, etc. doesn't make them any less "powerful" than the miraculous signs.


I knew that my blog entry wasn't a complete answer, esp for believing Christians. I was responding to something I read that suggested, "Prayer is useless when the real issue is that children are starving, or dying from the Ebola virus." I was trying to show that prayer...even if you take the "miraculous" expectations out...prayer leads people to notice and do something about it. Prayer is the root of compassionate action. Without praying people, very very few good things will ever happen.

Pray!!! But also trust that God wants to hear you, he listens, and he will take action now, later, or in the life to come, as a direct result of your prayers.

I love you, Mom. And I pray for you more than you know, too.

Greg