Prayer. There is nothing more powerful, nothing more transformative, nothing greater to impact a change in our lives and the lives of others than prayer.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
We often pray with a list of requests: I need this; I don’t need this. I want you to do this, but you’ve already done enough in this area… We are demanding and try to control God, presuming that we know more than he.
Thankfully, we are not as wise as our loving, omniscient heavenly Father who knows what we need before we say it—and he loves to hear from us! He longs for us to approach, calling him Abba, Father.
We see examples like Abraham and Jacob whose prayers changed the path God was taking in a couple of situations, but that is not what prayer is all about. Prayer is about increasing our faith and growing closer to God—the one in whom we can trust; the one who has the power and love to work in and in spite of our circumstances to his glory.
The persistent widow (Luke 18) taught us that. She was an example of faith (v. 8) and her persistence was recognized—not because she continued to repeat her request, but rather because she went to the one who had the power to grant her request.
A few verses later, we see the example of someone who thought himself unworthy of help. Yet he, too, was honored for his attitude toward prayer. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
May we all be transformed by the power of prayer—not an answered prayer, but the humble act of faith lifted to our Abba, Father.