Today I want to ask this question: do my prayers matter? I think this is something a lot of Christians will ask themselves about; I know I have. Do my prayers really matter? Can my prayers make a difference in the world?
We are going to read some scripture to answer this question.
Do my prayers matter?
The stories of Christians being persecuted and martyred for their faith have always captured my attention since I was young. More than ever before, these stories stand out to me. Stories of daring faith, courage, compassion, trust, steadfastness, and utter dependency on the LORD.
When I think of Christians dying for their faith, I usually think of the martyrs from the start of the church. Those disciples and apostles who gave up everything to take up their cross and follow Jesus and make His name known through all the world. I think of the stories I’ve read from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs—stories of incredible devotion to Jesus. I think of the Roman world with gladiator games where they would publicly kill and have wild animals gore Christians for entertainment.
I imagine something from long ago.
Do you know there are Christians being killed today? Do you know that there are Christians in labor camps where they are starved and can never be freed? Do you know that in one single country, about 35 of our brothers and sisters in Christ are killed a day? Do you know that hundreds of churches are looted, burned, and destroyed? Do you know about Christian women and young children being kidnapped, abused, and trafficked? Do you know that Christians are being tortured for Christ right now?
I didn’t know.
Now I do, and I can’t unsee what I have seen. I cannot unhear what I have heard. I know the truth. I know what my brothers and sisters in Christ are doing for Christ.
This is happening all around the world.
What can I do? I am only one person. I am only a young woman. What can I do?
What can you do? This question I have heard others ask. I have asked this. What can I do? What can I pray for? Does it even matter?
Yes, it does matter. Prayer matters. Not because of anything YOU can do but because of who we serve and pray to. Our God is the God of the impossible. He is able to do miracles.
Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, multiplied food, and taught how to follow God and live a life of godliness following His example.
Sometimes we have no words to pray. That is when it is important to be praying with the Holy Spirit.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” —Romans 8:26-27
So the Spirit intercedes on our behalf with groaning too deep for words. The Holy Spirit prays according to the will of God. There is comfort in this.
We don’t need to know what to pray for.
We just need to pray, and God will do the rest.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
—Psalm 46:10
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