So let’s get real for a second. Does prayer actually work? Or are we who believe in prayer simply misguided individuals throwing our words into empty air?
There have been times when it feels like I have a direct connection to heaven, like God is able to hear my request before it’s even made and immediately answer me. But other prayers seem to be met with silence from my Heavenly Father, requiring patient waiting before His answer will be revealed.
So why is it that some prayers seem to work, while others miss the mark?
Let’s be clear. God is God and I’m a human who could never possibly fully understand His sovereignty. That being said, I believe the answer to the above question many times lies in the context of relationship. Unlike any other religion in the world, Christians get to experience our God in a very personal way. We serve a God who sees us, knows us, and desires to be known by us. Through the incredible gift of Jesus Christ’s death on our behalf, the veil that once separated us from God has been torn in two.
Prayer that is heard and answered by God most often occurs when we are living rightly in the gift of this relationship. Think about this from a human perspective. The closest relationships in your life offer you deeper insight into the other person’s desires, hurts, and joys. The longer and more frequently the relationship is cultivated, the deeper this connection becomes. We are designed after God’s own heart. That means the dynamics of relationship are mirrored between Creator and creation. Want to pray prayers to God that are alive and powerful? Then spend more time getting to know Him and what He desires.
So where do we start?
I’d like to offer three simple prayers that you can begin praying today that will help you connect with the heart of God. You will find these words are nothing fancy, but if prayed earnestly, have powerful results. But be warned: when you pray these prayers you have to be willing to watch and wait for the answer. And trust me, the answer may surprise you.
Prayer #1: “God, break my heart for the things that break Your heart.”
The reason this prayer has been so powerful for me is that it pulls my eyes away from my own insecurities, fears, and stress, and instead draws them outward toward a hurting world in need. Suddenly, all the things that I’ve been fretting over and worrying about become small and less significant. My heart is open and compassionate toward things that I never saw before. People around me begin to matter. Their stories matter. Their hurts and their brokenness matters. This is the first step in opening your life to be used powerfully by God. You first have to understand His heart.
When you pray this prayer, expect to be interrupted, especially in the midst of seasons when you’re focused on your own problems. Be willing to take the time to listen to someone’s story, research important causes, and understand needs that arise around you.
Prayer #2: “God, show me where You are working and use me in Your story.”
God is telling a story - one of rescue, redemption, and restoration for His creation. Once your heart begins to break for the same things that break God’s heart, you will want to ask to be a part of this story.
Our culture tells us that we should pursue our dreams and not let anyone or anything get in the way of doing so. The intent is to inspire people to go after things they are passionate about. The problem is, without God, those things can amount to absolutely nothing of eternal substance. When we pray this prayer, we are first asking God what His dreams and passions are, and how we can align ourselves with that mission. The interesting thing about posturing yourself in this way is that God usually shows you how to leverage your biggest passions so they produce larger and more beautiful results than you could’ve ever thought possible.
This prayer is very dangerous to a comfortable life. When you pray this prayer, watch for opportunity everywhere you go. Watch for people in need. Watch for situations requiring wisdom and solutions that only you can offer. It will take some risk to follow God into some of these places. Trust Him - it’s worth it!
Prayer #3: “God, reveal Yourself through me.”
This final prayer invites God to show who He really is to an unbelieving world. Praying this prayer allows God to do God-size things, things that are only possible if He is involved. I want people to look at my life and have to acknowledge that a Higher Power exists because of the things I’m producing. I want His grace, love, mercy, and Creator Spirit to be revealed through my life and the work of my hands. Jesus reveals a similar mandate for us. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Ask God to reveal Himself by producing rare and beautiful things through you that the world has never seen before.
When you pray this prayer be ready to undertake things that feel much too large for you. There are many instances in the Bible where God invited men into His work who felt they were unqualified for the huge task ahead of them. He does this so that when the impossible is accomplished, He gets the glory. People watching have to acknowledge God’s existence and involvement when God-size things happen.
Friends, remember that this is not a formula. This is simply a helpful guide to better connect you with the heart of God. That’s what God is most interested in - to know you and to be known by you.
These prayers are a great place to start. As you connect more deeply with God, life will begin to change. It definitely has for me. Praying these prayers has opened the door for God to use me through Pioneering With Passion Ministries (PPM). While praying these prayers, He gave me a broken heart to serve hurting and forgotten refugees. It was through these prayers that He gave me a vision for where He was working and how to build this organization in a way that joined His rescue story. As a result of these prayers, He is doing bigger and better things through me than I could have ever thought possible.
So what are you waiting for? Join me in praying and then watch the incredible things that await.
