Voices: The power and importance of prayer

After graduating from college and relocating to Fort Worth with no job or money, I knew only one person in the city—my new roommate. We were broke and strapped for cash and soon realized our apartment had no kitchen glassware.

We prayed, and God answered our prayer most unexpectedly, as he may also do for you.

To attract more customers, McDonald’s ran a promotion where people could visit a restaurant, sing the Big Mac jingle and receive a free McDonald’s glass. We didn’t even have to purchase anything.

So, my roommate and I ventured out one Friday night, with no singing ability whatsoever, hit three McDonald’s and sang the jingle: “Two all-beef-patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.”

And happily, we returned to our apartment with six free drinking glasses.

Our method may seem unusual, but sometimes God answers prayers in ways we might not expect or even understand.

What is prayer?

Prayer is a divine tool given to us by God to develop intimacy with him. He provides us with this gift because everyone is important to him. It is not an attempt to get goodies from him. The primary purpose of prayer is to communicate with the Lord—to get to know him and his will and to align our desires, prayers and lifestyle to his purposes for our lives.

Prayer may include asking, thanking, praising, lamenting and confessing. The biblical examples of prayer portray God as a God who listens, not a distant deity who must be cajoled into attending to humanity’s affairs.

As I state in Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer—and is worth repeating over and over: “Believers are called to pray. God can do whatever he wants, but he delights in working through our prayers. Sometimes, we hesitate to pray because we do not believe that there will be results” (p. 17).

Praying is not about goosebumps and our emotions running high. It means being “in the zone” where we communicate with God openly and honestly about what is on our mind. Spending time in God’s presence and meditating on God’s word helps us pray and see the will of God for our lives.

The Holy Spirit’s role in prayer

God’s Holy Spirit searches our hearts to convict, correct and encourage us on our journey. He makes us aware and sensitive to our need for Jesus Christ. Through prayer and Bible reading, we see areas where we need to confess.

If we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us by giving us divine assistance and guidance. When we read God’s word, the Spirit helps us understand God’s ways. When we pray, he helps us pray according to God’s will because he knows God’s mind.

Prayer is one thing we can do anytime, anywhere. Many encourage us to start the day with prayer first thing in the morning. That is when I pray. However, I would not be legalistic about setting a time. If it works better for someone to pray and read their Bible in the evening, they should do it. What is essential is to establish consistency about when and where you pray and spend time with the Lord.

How does God answer our prayers?

“Yes.”
“No.”
“Wait. Not now. Slow down.”

We must understand a “no” answer is an answer, because God answers prayers.

When God’s answers are not in line with our wishes, it could be because we are asking contrary to his will, or he may have something better for us.

We may not be ready yet to receive his answer, or God is using our waiting time to strengthen our faith, prepare us for the answer or mature us in his word.

Keep preserving in your prayers.

Why is waiting so hard?

Waiting is hard because we want what we want right now. We don’t like to wait for anything or anyone, including God. Waiting feels like suffering, but what we do while waiting is essential.

Everything happens because God either wills it or allows it. Because God engages in everything, who better can answer our prayers than he who sees the big picture unfolding in our lives?

Miracles or divine interventions come from God. He can do more than we can ask or imagine, because nothing is impossible for our all-powerful God.

The Bible is our instruction manual for a godly life. Reading and memorizing God’s word is essential for praying God’s will and living a life that honors him. God will not grant us a desire contrary to his word. Still, he always will keep his word, even though Satan attempts to undermine the power of the holy Scripture.

Pastor, professor and author Leslie T. Hardin said, “The universe is not governed by fate; God is in control of every occurrence” (“Prayer” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary). Hardin is correct.

Just as God made way for my roommate and me to get free glasses, I hope you will trust him to guide you as you submit to his will.

As my former pastor Bob Harris joyfully said when God astounded him by answering his prayers, “Lord, you’ve got to be kidding me!”

I want to be joyfully astounded when I see the mighty and unusual ways God may answer my prayers. God knows what is best for me. And he knows what is best for you, too.

Patti Greene is a graduate of Baylor University and Dallas Baptist University, a member of Second Baptist Church in Houston, and the author of seven books. The views expressed are those of the author.