5 Reasons Why We Shouldn't Give Up On Prayer – Part 2

Last week, I waded into the question that almost all of us have thought at one time or another, but maybe dared not to ask. When we feel like our prayers are hitting the ceiling and God must not hear nor care, we can find ourselves asking the question, “Why should I pray?”Today, we’ll look at 3 reasons in addition to the 2 we looked at last week…3.  Prayer changes things.Lest we think that prayer is only about changing us, we must remember accounts like 2 Chronicles 33:13 where Manasseh cries out to God and asks for forgiveness.

And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

In Exodus 32:13-14, we see a second example. Moses comes before the Lord and begs Him to hold off from the judgment He had determined for the children of Israel for their idolatry.

“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

4.  Some things only change with prayer.Mark 9:28-29 gives us a sobering reminder.

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Ladies, prayer is not an option. We must pray. Jesus has written to us so that we should have no doubts that prayer is a necessity.[bctt tweet="Prayer is not an option. We must pray."]5.  Prayer changes us.Last but not least, these next two verses have been my steadying force in the midst of various storms. There are times when prayer is what sustains us while we wait. God takes our requests and gives us a peace, even when the answer hasn’t yet arrived.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:6-7)

Every one of us has unanswered prayers and the enemy would love to convince us that prayer is a useless religious ritual. If he succeeded with that strategy, believers would be rendered ineffective. In Luke 18, Jesus even tells a parable about remaining persistent in prayer. Luke states, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (verse 1).God Himself knew the danger of us losing heart. It’s so important that we heed His warning and wise counsel. While you’re waiting for a prayer to be answered, lean into a friend. I’ve been in many seasons where I’ve lent my faith… and in this current season when I’m longing for the wait to end, I lean on others. Let’s lock arms together and lean on each other as we continue to pray.[bctt tweet="While you’re waiting for a prayer to be answered, lean into a friend."]