Do Our Prayers Make a Difference?

Sometimes I wonder why God has us pray. I’m being honest here. I do pray, and I do completely understand that this is our way of communicating with God and that He wants us to connect with Him on a deep level through prayer and meditation.

But why does God say our prayers make a difference? He’s sovereign, He can do anything, and He can accomplish it all without us having anything to do with it. Why does He tell us to ask for things or to pray for others so that they can get help or outright tell us that our prayers have power?

These are my human, finite thoughts as I look through a dark murky glass at spiritual things I can’t understand even halfway, much less fully.

So the other day as I was pondering, a picture came to my mind of the earth covered in darkness. Pinpoints of light could be seen, but not the electric lights of a normal night. These lights were the glow of God’s people – those who were saved by trusting in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, in Him alone, letting what He did on the cross speak for them in eternity.

The lights grew bright as each Christian prayed, becoming stronger and serving like superhighways, jumping-off points for angels, taking God’s mercy and strength and help to those in need.

This is really fanciful, I know. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but what if our prayers are needed simply because that’s how God set it up to work here on earth?

What if our prayers are needed simply because that’s how God set it up to work here on earth? Click To Tweet

God Chooses to Use Our Prayers

God can do anything, but He often chooses the weaker vessel to lend aid to a stronger one. He often employs humans to do His work even though He could do it better, faster, more effectively. He chooses to use us.

He chooses to use our prayers. It may not be exactly like my little imagination up above, but He says He chooses to use prayer to enact His will on Earth among men.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16

This verse has always been so interesting to me. I looked it up and found that the words “effectual fervent” in this verse actually come from one Greek word, “energeo,” related to our word “energy.”

Energetic prayers. Prayers marked with urgency, with passion, with persistence. Think of the things we do energetically each day, those things urgent and important. Our prayers need that kind of energy, too.

What if our prayers are the engine God uses to make His will happen? What if they are our only way to help the spiritual forces all around us in battle to this day?

Why Does God Say Our Prayers Make a Difference?

Maybe you’re stuck at home on oxygen, or an invalid confined to your bed. Maybe you’re a mom of young children who keep you so busy you feel you never get to impact the outside world beyond changing diapers, giving baths, and all the other important but never-ending tasks of motherhood.

Perhaps you feel so isolated that you believe you can’t possibly make a difference in the world for Christ.

You do have an important ministry still. Just doing those tasks is a form of glorifying God, even if no one else sees it.

But even more so, your prayers can impact the spiritual world around you without you ever leaving your house. Our prayers are a ministry in and of themselves, and they don’t need to be heard by anyone but God.

Prayer has no boundaries, no weaknesses, no limits except those which exist in our own minds. Only insecurities, distractions, disbelief, and lack of attention can stop a believer’s prayer.

4 Scriptures About How to Pray

God tells us to pray faithfully, effectively, constantly, and from a place of belief.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Colossians 4:2

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 11:24

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

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A Primary Purpose of Prayer

Prayer is not a secondary thing. It is not something that people do when they’ve been sidelined by life. Prayer is not a last resort.

Prayer is a front-line battle, and the nature of prayer means every single Christian on Earth can engage in that front line fight.

You, me, we can join together in the spiritual battles as we bend our knee and pray for God’s will.

Your Turn

Has there been something on your heart lately to pray for? Consider doing that prayer first. Pray with energy and pray with faith.