Does Prayer Help?
Beginning in March, our church will begin an extended time of prayer and fasting. Throughout this time, we will seek God’s face and blessing for His work in our city, the surrounding regions, and around the world. We will be diligent in praying for our schools, local churches, church planters, church ministries, government, and for God to send a revival once again.
We must believe that praying is needed and will serve to further God’s will. Or do we? Sometimes people wonder if prayer actually ‘does’ anything. “Thoughts and prayers” is a much-disparaged phrase these days, and I understand why. The phrase is used as camouflage for doing little to offer material aid to those one could help. But praying remains the first thing we must do, even if it is also true that it isn’t the only thing we are called to do.
Prayer helps. Paul knew this and wrote about it to the churches that partnered with him in his mission.
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Karl Barth wrote, “Prayer is a grace, an offer from God.” What do we mean when we say that prayer is a gift God gives us before it is an activity we engage in? Let’s consider this in three ways, communion with God, growth in grace, and help for others.
1. Communion with God
Above all else, prayer is communion with God. When we pray, we enter God’s presence and seek his face. When we pray, we join with all the angels and saints around the throne of grace and see the beauty of God. We see this deep communion in Jesus’ prayers. He says, “I come to you Father.” Jesus also teaches us to use the same language in prayer as he does to come to the Father. I believe that God answers prayer, but the greatest gift God gives us in prayer is himself.
2. Growth in Grace
Second, we grow in grace through prayer. Christopher Gordon observes, “Paul reminds us that Christians share the privilege as adopted children to cry, “Abba! Father!” As we do so, we are promised the help of the Holy Spirit who (1) puts to death sin in our lives (v. 13), (2) “bears witness with our spirits that we are sons of God” (v. 16), and (3) helps us with our weaknesses as He intercedes for us in prayer (vv. 26–27)...These are remarkable helps that the heavenly Father gives to us through the work of the Holy Spirit as we depend on Him in prayer.”
3. Help for Others
Lastly, prayer is a gift we give to others. By prayer, God invites us to join him in accomplishing his will. Paul knew this and asked the Corinthians to help him through their prayers. Was God unable to help Paul without the Corinthians? Not at all. But God has given us the gift of helping others through prayer. When we pray for others, we become God’s co-laborers in the harvest, agents of his grace coming to those we may never even know until heaven.
Let’s pray together: O Lord, I thank you that as you gave your life for me once for all on the cross, you continuously give your life to me in prayerful communion with you. I am in you, and you are in me. Cause me to grow in faith, hope, and love, and send your powerful help to aid and deliver all who proclaim your word today, here and around the world. Amen.