“I’m crazy enough to believe that the prayers of a few hundred people have an impact.”
I said that in the middle of this big circle of riders and volunteers before the start of this year’s Freedom Tour Prologue. I believe it, too. Prayer matters. God hears our prayers and wants conversation. The spirit intercedes when we’re uncertain about the words.
I absolutely believe prayer has the power to change things. When I say something like that, I want to be clear about what I think I’m changing.
I don’t pray to change God. I pray so God will change me.
When Jesus talked about how to pray (what we call The Lord’s Prayer), He said, “…your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Earlier he assured us, “… your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Tim Keller says, “The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God’s will to mine, but to mold my will into his.”
If that’s true, if we don’t talk to God so He’ll do what we want, how can the prayers of a few hundred people have an impact?
Imagine all those folks in the circle seeking God’s will for justice. Imagine them understanding a bit better how He wants the Kingdom to look and what it means to set things right. Imagine all those hearts touched and stirred to act, to do what they can, where they are, with what they have.
Imagine that, and it’s easy to see how those prayers have a real, tangible impact.
Jesus doesn’t need me to tell Him about the plight of the kids at the HOME OF HOPE or the urgency of their needs or what He should do about it. He knows that stuff, and He’s already caring for them – and all the other victims of human trafficking – in ways I’ll never completely comprehend.
My conversation seeks connection and communication so my thoughts and actions will move into better alignment with His, so I’ll do a small bit to set things right.
A few hundred of us doing that, working together, trusting God for the results, will indeed have an impact.