Do I believe prayer makes a difference? Do you? What a question to ask a pastor! And yet, if we are honest there, are moment we ask ourselves that exact question don’t we? I recently read Richard Blackaby and Rick Fisher’s book, Developing a Powerful Praying Church. That question snuck up on me as I read. It came right behind the lead question of the book, “What if the key to successful pastorate is prayer?”
It’s not that I don’t pray. I do almost every morning, intentionally, mostly. Still, there are ebbs and flows to prayer for all of us. Here is a truth: when we are in a low prayer season, somehow our beliefs about God or prayer have gotten off track.
Here is a truth: when we are in a low prayer season, somehow our beliefs about God or prayer have gotten off track.
Maybe we believe we don’t need His help and so we race to the work and skip the prayer. Maybe we question whether prayer makes a difference so we turns to something we believe might make a difference faster. I can’t speak for you, but I wonder how else you might explain the ebbs in your life?
I want to share a verse with you that has become an anchor for what I believe God wants us to believe about him to deepen our prayer life. But first I want to remind you that the Bible teaches us that we must come to God in prayer in faith, if we are to expect His to hear & respond. I have been memorizing Psalm 69:13 to deepen the specific of that faith that it models for us.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Ps 69:13
Here is the gold of this verse: In contrast to others who look for help elsewhere, David intentionally choses to come to the Lord with His request.
- David affirms faith in God’s timing. He believes God will answer in the time He thinks best. David expresses that trust even as he asks. This keeps us from demanding or panicking. It deepens anchors my trust.
- David affirms faith in the God’s great love for Him. He is not praying with anxiety about God’s heart. He is a well-loved son. He affirms this beautifully. This calms my fears and settles any anxiety that maybe God doesn’t care. It deepens my faith in the depths of Jesus’ love for us.
- David affirms faith in God’s faithfulness to save. He is not worried about God’s power or purpose. He is not afraid God might be fickle. He fully, deeply trusts God’s heart. We can trust God’s saving faithfulness every time!
This verse helps me settle my heart to trust God as I come to him in prayer as well. it teaches me to affirm that He is our life and salvation. His timing, love and saving faithfulness are ALWAYS in play. So I pray. How about you?
So let me ask you brothers, How is your prayer life in this second month of our new year? What do you believe about God that is impacting it? I encourage you to take time to ask Jesus to help you answer this question if you are struggling. Then reflect on His saving faithfulness, abundant steadfast love and saving faithfulness. Let it help deepen your prayer relationship with Him.
What if our impact as pastors really does depend on our prayer relationship with Jesus?
The Pastor's Life 