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?
James 5:16 (NLT) tells us, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” Prayer is powerful not because of our words, but because of the One who hears them. When we pray, we are not just speaking into the air—we are engaging with the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT), “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Prayer is not an occasional exercise; it is a continual conversation with our Lord. It aligns our hearts with His will, strengthens our faith, and unleashes His power in our lives.
So let us not view prayer as a duty to check off before we get to "real ministry." Prayer is the greater work—it is our lifeline to God, our source of strength, and the key to seeing His will accomplished. Will you commit to making prayer your first and greatest work?
3. Prayer Transforms Us from the Inside Out
As we continue in prayer, we experience transformation. Our desires, attitudes, and perspectives begin to reflect Christ more clearly.
Romans 12:2 (NLT): “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
The Greek word for transform is metamorphoo, from which we get the word metamorphosis. Just as a caterpillar is completely changed into a butterfly, prayer brings about radical transformation in our lives.
A blacksmith shapes metal through heat and hammering. Similarly, prayer is the fire and tool that God uses to mold our hearts and minds.
A.W. Tozer said, “The most important thing about a man is not what he does, but what he prays.”
A.W. Tozer’s words challenge us to examine the true foundation of our lives. In a world that often defines people by their achievements, their careers, or their influence, Tozer reminds us that what truly matters is not what we do—but how we pray.
What does this mean? It means that our relationship with God is of far greater importance than our outward actions. We may accomplish great things in the eyes of the world, but if our prayer life is weak, our spiritual life is weak. On the other hand, even if the world sees us as insignificant, if we are faithful in prayer, we are strong in the Lord.
Jesus emphasised this in Matthew 6:6 (NLT): “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Our prayer life is the unseen foundation of everything we do. It is not about impressing others but about being in communion with God.
James 4:8 (NLT) tells us, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” The depth of our relationship with God is determined by how much time we spend in His presence. If we neglect prayer, we drift from Him. If we devote ourselves to prayer, we draw near to Him and experience His power in our lives.
E.M. Bounds, another great man of prayer, once wrote: “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use—men of prayer.” If we truly desire to see God move in our lives, in our families, in our churches, and in our communities, it starts with prayer.
So let me ask you: How is your prayer life? Are you more focused on what you do than on how you pray? Today, let us commit ourselves to making prayer our priority—because the most important thing about us is not our achievements, but our relationship with the One who made us. Will you go deeper in prayer today?
4. Jesus Is Our Ultimate Example of Prayer
Jesus, the Son of God, made prayer a priority in His life. If He needed prayer, how much more do we?
Matthew 26:39 (NLT): “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’
The Greek word for will here is thelema, meaning God’s intended purpose. Jesus demonstrated ultimate surrender, showing us that prayer is about trust, not demands.
A soldier following their commander trusts the orders given, even without knowing the full plan. Similarly, in prayer, we trust God’s plan even when we don’t fully understand.
Andrew Murray wrote, “Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. God’s voice in response to mine is its most essential part.”
Andrew Murray’s words remind us of a profound truth: Prayer is not just about us speaking to God—it is about listening to Him. Too often, we approach prayer as a one-way conversation, where we present our requests, our struggles, and our desires to God, but fail to pause and listen for His response. Yet, the most essential part of prayer is not our words, but His.
In John 10:27 (NLT), Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” This means that as followers of Christ, we are called to listen for the voice of our Shepherd. He speaks to us through His Word, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and even through the circumstances of our lives. But we must take the time to be still and hear Him.
Psalm 46:10 (NLT) instructs us: “Be still, and know that I am God!” In our fast-paced, noisy world, it is easy to fill our prayer time with our own words and not leave room for God to speak. But when we intentionally quiet our hearts before Him, we open ourselves to receive His wisdom, His guidance, and His peace.
The prophet Elijah experienced this in 1 Kings 19:11-12. God did not speak to him through the mighty wind, the earthquake, or the fire—but in a gentle whisper. God often speaks in a still, small voice, and we must be attentive to hear Him.
Henry Blackaby, a modern Christian leader, once said: “God speaks to His people by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.” If we only speak and never listen, we miss out on the greatest blessing of prayer: experiencing God’s presence and hearing His direction for our lives.
So, let me ask you: Are you listening for God’s voice? Do you take time in your prayers to be still and hear Him? Today, I encourage you—don’t let your prayers be a monologue. Make space for God to speak, and you will discover that His voice brings wisdom, comfort, and power into your life. Will you listen to Him today?
Conclusion and Call to Action
Prayer is not about changing God; it is about changing us. It deepens our relationship with Him, aligns our hearts with His will, and transforms us from the inside out.
Will you commit to a life of prayer? Will you trust God even when you do not understand His plan?
If you have never put your faith in Jesus, let today be the day. God is waiting with open arms. Call out to Him, confess your need for Him, and receive His love, grace, and salvation.
Final Thought: Go! And Be Transformed Through Prayer!
