Prayer Still Changes Things

In my files is a *Newsweek *cover story called "Talking to God: An Intimate Look at the Way We Pray." It cites a study showing that 78 percent of all Americans pray at least once a week. Even among the 15 percent of Americans who consider themselves atheists or agnostics, nearly one in five still prays daily. (I can't help but wonder, to whom?)

Loving verbal communication with God ought to be as natural as breathing for a Christian. But if we're honest, most of us aren't satisfied with our prayer lives. We lack discipline and consistency. Busy schedules crowd out time to talk with God. Faith wavers when prayers appear to go unanswered.

Someone has said that a Christian who neglects prayer is like an electrical appliance unplugged from the power source. If so, a congregation that shortchanges prayer is like a store where dozens of appliances sit idle on the showroom floor, waiting to be put to use.

Without prayer, our smartest plans will fail. Without prayer, our brightest leaders will burn out. Without prayer, our most beautiful church buildings will seem hollow and our best-attended worship services will seem empty. Without casting our cares on God, we'll discover they remain on our own shoulders.

Fervent prayer will do more for our churches than new facilities, special programs, or staff changes. Without prayer, even the best marriage, family or friendship will lack spiritual power and depth. Without prayer, we'll miss out on the great "co-mission" our heavenly Father invites us to share with him. Augustine said, "Without God we cannot; without us God will not."

King Solomon knelt down and led a gathered throng of worshipers in a long, earnest prayer. Afterward, God's answer was immediate and dramatic: "Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple" (2 Chronicles 7:1). Nowadays God doesn't send literal fire from the sky when his people gather for worship. But when we get serious about prayer, his fire of revival will purify our souls and fuel our service.

The Lord told Solomon, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Prayer reminds us who we are: God's people, called by his name. We're not abandoned, wandering children searching desperately to find our identity. We have found our identity in Christ. He has made us "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" (1 Peter 2:9).

Prayer humbles us. It reminds us to shine the spotlight of glory in God's direction, not upon ourselves. In prayer, we "seek God's face" instead of admiring our own faces; we "turn from our wicked ways" instead of rationalizing our ways.

And prayer brings God's blessing. He will "hear from Heaven." Our heavenly Father is attentive, concerned, ready to listen. He will "forgive our sin"—an Old Testament promise fulfilled by Jesus Christ. He will "heal our land." Though this original promise was made to the Jewish people, any nation will experience God's healing grace when its citizens fall before the Lord in humble, earnest prayer.

Our land needs healing. And the healing needs to start in our own prayer closets, where God will change our hearts.