Can prayer really make a difference? Can my prayers actually change things? Is it possible for God’s will to be thwarted because I don’t pray? These are important, honest questions. The answers you give reflect the foundation of your relationship with the Lord.

On one hand, if God is sovereign, He will accomplish His will perfectly—so why pray? On the other hand, if He is waiting on my prayers to move His hand, then I’d better take prayer seriously! 

How do God’s sovereignty and our prayers work together? God uses prayer to make the impossible possible and the ordinary extraordinary. Prayer unlocks God’s power, makes our efforts effective, and clarifies His will. C.H. Spurgeon said, “Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets His people to pray.”

Faithful praying releases the Holy Spirit to act and allows us to witness God in His full glory. As someone once said, “God does things when we pray that He does not do when we do not pray.”

May today’s devotional inspire you to seek the Lord in prayer. Look up prayer in your Bible’s concordance and read the verses you find. Let them deepen your love for prayer and help you see how vital it is to the life of faith.

Reflection Question:

How has prayer shaped your relationship with God? What steps can you take to grow deeper in prayer?

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for hearing every prayer lifted on behalf of Gateway. Thank Him for His faithfulness in answering. Pray that our church family will pray more fervently than ever before, and that all we do together will be bathed in prayer.