Consequences of Prayer

Consequence - 1.  a result or effect of an action or condition. synonyms:result, upshot, outcome, effect, repercussion, ramification, corollary, concomitant, aftermath, aftereffect;
2.  importance or relevance.  synonyms:importance, import, significance, account, substance, note, mark, prominence, value, concern, interest;

Prayer – secret, fervent, believing prayer – lies at the root of all personal godliness.  ~ Williams Carey

Why do I pray?  Is it to get what I want, what I think I need, what I think someone else wants or needs?  If so, these are the wrong reasons.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.  James 4:3

The need for prayer is real and eternal, but the whys of it are seemingly vague.  We pray for a loved one going through financial stress.  We ask that God would not only meet their needs, but grant them excess so that they can have relief from the stress they are under.  This sounds great, but it is not necessarily what the person we are praying for really needs.  Perhaps they are being allowed to go through financial strains to get them to truly rely on their heavenly Father.  If so, shouldn't we be praying for them to simply place their trust in the One Who meets every need, so that their needs will be met?  Trust - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.  There have been times in my life that when I analyzed my prayers in accordance with my faith, I have found myself wanting in the trust department.  Why?  Because I know that what is truly best for me may not be what I think I want or need.  If not, then God may not give it to me and I really want it, whether for myself or someone else!!  How can this be rectified?

 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

This verse doesn't say He will meet our needs according to earthly standards, but rather according to His riches in heaven.  Somehow I think His riches are much greater than those we have here on earth.  However, they are intangible.  We cannot touch them, let alone fully grasp them in our present state.  What can we do to make them real in our lives so that we learn to fully place our trust in our Father?

I recently rejoined a church I have been away from for several years.  Many people came up and hugged me and I thought, "Oh, I remember them!"  I do have a memory of them, but guess what?  They are not the same people I remember.  They have changed.  They have aged quite a bit, some seemingly more than others.  Some are more cheerful than I remembered, some more serious, but they have changed.  The reason I notice the changes is that I have not stayed in communication with them. 

I have seven grandchildren.  They have changed greatly through the years, growing physically, mentally and spiritually.  These changes do not surprise me because they have been going on right in front of me.   I communicate with them daily, so I truly know who they are inside and out.

Even though God never changes, we do, so when we neglect to spend time with Him in true communication, just throwing up our wants and needs in hope that He will maybe hear and answer in our favor, never listening to His response whether through a gentle thought, a thought provoking message from a brother/sister in Christ, or a verse that jumps out at us as we study His word, we may begin to wonder if he has changed from the God we read about as children and were taught about in Sunday School and church.  we will wonder what happened to the God that crushed the walls of Jericho and parted the Red Sea.  Good News!!  He hasn't changed - we've just never taken the time to really get to know Him!!

Seven years ago I sat in a worship service wondering how in the world we were going to pay all our bills.  I had felt led to quit my job in order to care for my grandchildren.  God affirmed this through my husband who encouraged me to do so.  Now here I sat, more bills than money staring at me and taunting me.  I started talking to God.  I realize this blocked out the sermon.  I have no idea what the pastor preached on that morning, but I know what I learned.  I became angry and said, "Wait a minute!  God, You are the me that told me to quit my job, so You take care of the bills!!  I refuse to worry about them any more!!"  I closed the notebook, focused on what the pastor was saying and felt a calm in my spirit - a knowing that something within me had just changed.  God hadn't, but I had.  I had just crossed the line from worry into the land of trust!!

Am I ever glad I did!!  Not only did our bills get paid on time, but we were able to start putting some money aside for repairs on our house, which we are currently in the process of renovating a little at a time as God provides the means. 

Prayer is not a means of gain, it is a means of growth.

The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. Psalm 145:18

 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.  Luke 18:1
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...Ephesians 6:18

Father, I want to know You more.  I want to see Your face.  You have said that I am made in Your image, yet when I look in the mirror of my heart I know that there is much there that is not of You.  You did not create me this way, but I have allowed the change to take place.  Forgive me, cleanse me and make me daily more like You so that when others look at me they might see Jesus' eyes reflecting through mine.  It is Your love that is magnetic and draws us to You.  May all I meet be drawn to Your love in me and desire to know more of You.  May all Your children turn their hearts to seek Your face daily by getting to know You better through prayer.  May our spiritual ears learn to discern Your voice above all others and become ever more obedient to its calling.