Prayer Doesn't Change 'Things'

Prayer does not change 'things'. Prayer changes you and you change things.

On December 3rd, the Daily News posted a cover stating “God Isn’t Fixing This” in reference to the 14 citizens that died in a mass shooting in San Bernadino, California the day before and the rampage of mass shootings, terrorism, and gun violence in the United States. The writer, Rich Schapiro, wrote a challenging post regarding the republican presidential candidates offers of prayer in the wake of the massacre rather than solutions on gun control. The post is to be expected in a time where people are seeing devastation and little change. It causes people who don’t know God to ask, where is God? But for me, I know God is here. So I ask “where are God’s people?”

I am not denouncing the article rather I am stating that it is extremely incomplete. The article poses the juxtaposition of “God vs. Gun Control” as a verb rather than a noun. In fact, he is really posing “Inaction vs. Action”, which I agree completely that there is a problem with “inaction”. But the issue with the author’s juxtaposition is that he is siting God and prayers as a form of inaction, and gun control as a form of action. However, the real problem is not that God is inactive. Rather, it is that we are an inactive people.

Prayer without action is useless. In fact, God requires activity with your prayers. When the people praying don’t truly understand the power and purpose of prayer, we lose. Furthermore, when people post comments such as “Pray for San Bernandino”, “Pray for Paris”, “Pray for Nigeria” and don’t even pray, they are even more belittling the power God gave us to be able to call Him onto a situation. How many of us hashtag and repost prayers for victims and never actually take the time to pray? It’s become a cliché. A term we use to make ourselves look holy and deep, or friendly and apathetic, but in reality it’s serving us no purpose because we aren’t actually doing it. Gosh, people who don’t even believe in God repost these prayer clichés. So I completely understand the article. The cliché to be praying when you aren’t really praying inevitably makes Christianity and all Godly beliefs look weak. Whenever we post such hashtags and take no action, we do the exact opposite of what God calls us to do – Glorify Him. It makes God look inadequate and I for one have no intention of making my Savior into a silly hashtag or repost if there is no action behind it. My God is too good for that.

It’s not that God isn’t doing anything. It’s that He is telling His people to do a whole lot of things, and we aren’t communing with Him enough to find out what those things are. When we do know what to do we let our own fears encapsulate us so much that we become ineffective and inactive. This entire world is waiting on Christians to be Christians and we are failing miserably.

“THIS ENTIRE WORLD IS WAITING ON CHRISTIANS TO BE CHRISTIANS AND WE ARE FAILING MISERABLY”

So let’s use God’s Word to teach everyone, what this prayer thing really is.

Guess what? Prayer Doesn’t Change 'Things'

The idea that prayer changes things isn't completely accurate. It's more accurate to say that prayer changes you and then you change things.

Prayer wasn’t built to get God to do something. God can do something with or without you when He feels like it. The issue is that God is not a man. He does not walk this earth. You do. It is the Holy Spirit inside of you that empowers God to move on the earth. You are His hands and His feet. Prayer is for you to get to know God and find out what He wants you to do to correct the situation on this earth. Prayer isn’t for God. It’s for you.

In John 14:12-14, you will see those amazing “red letters”. This is Jesus speaking people. He says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

Shall we break it down?

Jesus says you will do the “same works” that He has done. But He notes in order for you to do those works, you must “ask” in His name.

Why should we “ask”? And why then does He say, after asking “He will do it”?

The answer is in the next verse, John 14:15-17. Jesus says, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

Here, Jesus is saying, I am leaving, but when you pray and obey me, I will ask my Father to bring you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to do. The Holy Spirit will call you to action.

Here’s the flow chart: You pray and obey --> Jesus intercedes on your behalf --> the Father grants you the Holy Spirit --> the Holy Spirit does His part in leading you --> You take action.

The flow chart for prayer begins and ends with you taking action. Even more importantly, the flow chart is obsolete without God.

Let’s continue to read to understand why so many don't get this. Jesus says next in John 14:18a “The world cannot receive Him [the Holy Spirit], because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him”.

And that’s where we are today people. That’s where 2015 has brought us. The world is powerless to lead and act because the world hasn’t received the Holy Spirit. And the reason the world hasn’t received the Holy Spirit is because the world doesn’t even recognize the Holy Spirit. And the world doesn’t recognize the Spirit because of John 12:14 - The world does not believe in Jesus.

Oh, but I tell you, God is a good God. He always brings the good news. So what is the big but?

Next, Jesus says in John 14:18b “But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you”.

“BUT YOU KNOW HIM”

Jesus is speaking to His disciples (Disciples = Followers of Jesus). He is saying the world doesn’t know me. They won’t know me and they don’t understand me. But I have sent you, my sheep and my disciples to lead. Jesus introduced Himself to His disciples and those who have chosen to follow Him know Him and the Holy Spirit lives in them. So it’s the disciple’s job. It’s not the world’s job to correct the world’s problems. It’s the disciple’s job to get on their knees and pray. Pray without ceasing. Get to know your Lord and Savior. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into action. I cannot tell you what God wants you to do. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. But until you silence yourself and humble yourself to pray you will never know what action is necessary for God’s glory to come to pass. And even more devastating are those that do know, and have heard, but have not obeyed His command because those who know Him and choose not to obey His command will lose the chance of being with Him. Jesus promises His disciples in John 14:23 “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.”

So what does this mean for you then? Well if you are not a Christian, I pray you become a disciple, but whether or not you do, God still loves you and you should hold those people who call themselves Christian accountable to the Lord they profess. If you are a Christian, you are God’s people in this world. And you are to exemplify that in all your ways. You are to lead and love and bring unity. You are to inspire and take action. Action comes in many forms because it’s based on what God has purposed for your life. Maybe God calls you to fight the good fight for stricter gun control laws. Maybe He wants you to unite races, parties, and religious groups in your area. Maybe He wants you to just love the people you are surrounded by. And loving doesn’t mean just posting a prayer comment. Love is a verb and an action word. Prayer without action is not love.

When we don’t do life the way Jesus taught us, we confuse non-believers. Jesus did not expect the world to understand or know who He is. But He expected His followers to know Him and obey Him. Jesus doesn’t expect anything from the world. But He expects everything from the people who profess Him. So stop asking for the world and politicians to make a change. Look at yourself and take action on God’s purpose for your life.

Prayer does not change 'things'. Prayer changes you and you change things.