{"id":128,"date":"2008-10-21T09:57:47","date_gmt":"2008-10-21T13:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/davidcprice.wordpress.com\/?p=128"},"modified":"2008-10-21T09:57:47","modified_gmt":"2008-10-21T13:57:47","slug":"what-difference-does-prayer-really-make","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/what-difference-does-prayer-really-make\/","title":{"rendered":"What Difference Does Prayer Really Make?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had another really great meeting with my men’s group this morning.\u00a0 We continued the theme of prayer that has dominated our thoughts and conversations over the past week and will continue through the current series.<\/p>\n

Specifically, we talked about the purpose of prayer.\u00a0 Since God knows everything before we even know we need something (Matthew 6:32<\/a>) and because He has no need of anything, including praise, thanks, etc. (Acts 17:24-25<\/a> – that is to say, though He may desire to hear our thanks, it is not something He needs to feel good about Himself), what is the real point in prayer?<\/p>\n

Our conclusion was that, as we have said before, prayer is not so much for God as it is for us.\u00a0 We don’t pray to change the mind or heart of God but that our minds and hearts will be changed to reflect that of God.<\/p>\n

Since God does not need<\/em> thanks or praise, giving these things to Him because He is worthy develops within us people who are grateful and God-focused (thereby bringing glory to God, which is required of us).\u00a0 Asking Him for things causes us to realize our utter dependence on Him (also bringing glory to Him) and provides Him the opportunity to display His glory through answering prayer.<\/p>\n

The wonderful reality here is that God always takes the initiative (which is a huge relief!).\u00a0 How many times have you been prompted to pray for something or somebody?\u00a0 Who did the prompting?\u00a0 Is it not strange that God would prompt someone to pray something to Him so that He would move to answer the prayer He initiated<\/em>?\u00a0 Doesn’t it seem God could just take out the middle man (the one praying) and just do it<\/em>?\u00a0 It seems that God is glorified by having His people burdened for something by Him<\/em> so that He can show off His power.\u00a0 The result?\u00a0 Not only is the answer given, but the one praying is strengthened in their faith and walk with Him.\u00a0 It motivates us to want to pray more and about everything.<\/p>\n

Sometimes prayer comes hard.\u00a0 If, however, we keep these things in mind that God is developing in us people who trust Him more, depend on Him more, and show Him more gratitude for what He is doing in us, we will be encouraged to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17<\/a>), offering up little pop-up prayers throughout the day.\u00a0 What an amazing God!<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tTweet<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since God knows everything before we even know we need something (Matthew 6:32) and because He has no need of anything, including praise, thanks, etc. (Acts 17:24-25 – that is to say, though He may desire to hear our thanks, it is not something He needs to feel good about Himself), what is the real point in prayer?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[20],"tags":[684,142,348],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3jKZO-24","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2302,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/children-and-salvation-is-it-ever-too-early\/","url_meta":{"origin":128,"position":0},"title":"Children and Salvation: Is It Ever Too Early?","date":"May 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"My six-year old was saved Monday. Well, at least that's what he told me when he came home from school. As it turns out, a children's ministry from a local church holds a voluntary Bible club with the kids after school every so often and so, during that time, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Christianity"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":115,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/the-powerless-prayer\/","url_meta":{"origin":128,"position":1},"title":"The Powerless Prayer","date":"October 20, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm in a new series on prayer as we look at what has been traditionally called \"The Lord's Prayer\" or \"The Model Prayer.\" When we start looking at what Christ said prayer is and isn't, we quickly realize that much of what we do really isn't prayer at all...at least\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Christian Living"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4400,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/book-recommendation-praying-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":128,"position":2},"title":"Book Recommendation: Praying the Bible","date":"May 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"In my message on Sunday, I introduced a book that has helped to change the way I pray called\u00a0Praying The Bible, by Dr. Donald Whitney. If we\u2019re honest, prayer can easily become a recitation of repetitious words about repetitious things.\u00a0 The result is usually boredom and drudgery...and giving up. \u00a0I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/davidcprice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/8040E635-D65A-4E20-BE4D-F351F1AD721D.jpeg?fit=1200%2C630&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":466,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/were-always-filled-to-the-rim-with-something\/","url_meta":{"origin":128,"position":3},"title":"We’re Always Filled to the Rim With Something","date":"September 22, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"On Sunday, we talked about being filled with the Holy Spirit in our Gathering Worship and then explored what that meant on a deeper level in Journey Groups following that.\u00a0 I was struck with how important two things are that must happen if we are going to be filled with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Christian Living"","img":{"alt_text":"drinking_dirty-water","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/davidcprice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/drinking_dirty-water.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1269,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/resurrection-weekend-at-the-gathering\/","url_meta":{"origin":128,"position":4},"title":"Resurrection Weekend at The Gathering","date":"April 18, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"This weekend is going to be huge in the life of The Gathering. \u00a0We are going to start the weekend with an incredible time of reflection and worship at 7:00 PM Friday, celebrating Communion together. 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