Go! And Be Transformed Through Prayer Series

Go! And Be Transformed Through Prayer

Introduction

C.S. Lewis once said, “I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me.” Prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have as believers. It is our direct communication with God, our means of expressing our dependence on Him, and the way through which we align our hearts with His will. Today, we will explore the power of prayer, how it transforms us, and how God invites us to a deeper relationship with Him through prayer.

1. Prayer Is an Expression of Our Dependence on God

Our starting point in understanding prayer is acknowledging that we are completely dependent on God. Without Him, we can do nothing. Jesus Himself demonstrated this truth when He frequently withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16).

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT): “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

The Greek word for worry here is merimnao, meaning to be anxious or distracted. Paul tells us not to be consumed by anxiety but instead to pray about everything. In doing so, we experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. This peace is not circumstantial; it is supernatural and guards our hearts and minds.

Imagine a child lost in a crowd. The moment they find their parent, they experience relief. That is the kind of peace God offers us when we turn to Him in prayer.

Pastor Timothy Keller says, “To pray is to accept that we are, and always will be, wholly dependent on God for everything.”

Timothy Keller’s words remind us of a foundational truth—prayer is not about informing God of our needs, but about acknowledging our complete dependence on Him. In our modern world, where self-sufficiency is often celebrated, it is easy to forget that every breath, every moment, every provision comes from the Lord.

Jesus Himself modelled this dependence. In John 15:5 (NLT), He declared, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” Without Him, we are powerless. Prayer is not an occasional ritual—it is our lifeline to the One who sustains us.

When we embrace this truth, we approach prayer with humility, recognising that we are not in control.Prayer brings peace, not because it changes God, but because it changes us.

So, the question is—do we live as though we are dependent on God, or do we only turn to Him when all else fails? May we daily acknowledge our need for Him, not just in moments of crisis, but in every aspect of our lives. Let us pray continually, trusting that our faithful God will provide, sustain, and lead us according to His perfect will. Will you choose today to live in full dependence on Him?

2. Prayer Aligns Our Hearts with God’s Will

Prayer is not about changing God; it is about changing us. It is a means through which our will is brought into alignment with His.

Matthew 6:9-10 (NLT): “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

The phrase Your will be done reflects a heart surrendered to God. The Greek word for will is thelema, which refers to God's divine purpose. Through prayer, we are not trying to convince God to do our will, but we are asking for His will to be accomplished in our lives.

Think of a ship adjusting its sails to the direction of the wind. In the same way, prayer helps us adjust our hearts to the direction of God's will.

Oswald Chambers once said, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.”

Oswald Chambers' words challenge our perspective on prayer. Too often, we see prayer as preparation for ministry, as if it is merely a warm-up for the "real work" of serving God. But Chambers reminds us that prayer is not just a means to an end—it is the work itself.

Prayer is not just something we do before we act; it is the most important action we take. Jesus Himself demonstrated this truth. Before beginning His public ministry, He spent forty days in the wilderness praying and fasting (Luke 4:1-2). Before choosing His twelve disciples, He spent the night in prayer (Luke 6:12). In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed before going to the cross (Matthew 26:36-39). If Jesus, the Son of God, saw prayer as essential, how much more should we?