I believe in prayer. I believe that prayer is a conversation with our living Father and that He hears us. I believe that prayer has a powerful impact. I believe that prayer changes people. I believe that prayer can change circumstances, because an almighty God is involved.

We pray too little. That’s why we are as we are. Actually, it’s stupid to pray so little. Just as stupid as to use people to push a car from point A to point B instead of turning the key so that the engine can do the work. What a ridiculous example, but it’s just as ridiculous to neglect this unbelievably powerful channel of communication.

To pray is to talk to God. Here we can pour out our hearts. We can lie down before God physically, emotionally and spiritually. We can be completely honest with Him, because we are completely safe here. Nothing about us is new to Him. We cannot surprise or even shock Him, because He knows every little part of us.

Here, in the palm of God’s hand, we can share with Him our amazement of Him. In the silence of our prayer we can be overcome by his majesty, loads of love and care and God’s reaching out to us. One is changed by prayer, because that is where God is. Even if you said nothing.

Here, in the palm of God’s hand, we can praise Him and glorify his greatness.

This is also the place where we can be vulnerable in expressing our deepest longings. The stress and the hurt. The questions and the fears. The dreams and desires. Not only for ourselves, but also for others. Not only in the morning and evening, but continuously, without stopping. Like Paul said: ¹¹ … we pray for you all the time …

Jo-Ann (not her real name) told how her neighbour prayed for them:

My mother-in-law and I decided to make koeksisters for the first time. The lady from next door came to visit, but quickly left again. Later on, she told us that the Lord had impressed upon her to pray for us.

We were having a grand time baking, while the kids were sitting next to the sink enjoying those that had cooled off.

We made the syrup on the stove and then put it on a wooden bread board on the glass surface of the table. But we didn’t think to put the frying pan in which we were baking the koeksisters on a wooden board. And that table heated up and the glass top exploded.

Hot oil flew through the air. All over the kitchen, all around us. On the floor, against the cupboards, on the curtains, and even on the ceiling. But not one drop on me or my mother-in-law or the three kids!

Then the Lord said to our neighbour, right, you can go now and help clean up.

She came back and saw what had happened and simply started praising the Lord.

We didn’t know what was going on, but she told as we all cleaned up the kitchen together.

Our God is great and wonderful. I thank the Lord for a friend who prayed that day.

You and I must pray like that. Pray continuously for one another. Turn the key so that the engine can do the work.

Scripture

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

To think about

Do you pray enough?

Do you pray enough for others?

What must you do differently?

Prayer

Our Father, why do we pray so little? Why do we pray so little for our loved ones, friends and strangers? I want to pray more. Please help me to make time to talk to You every day, morning and evening and throughout the day. I look forward to that. Amen.