Prayer - a real mystery?

"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1 ESV) So, we are to be persistent in prayer. But are we in danger of simply trying to manipulate God into doing what we think should be done? Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways are not always (or even often) our ways (Isaiah 55:8). Many of us at International Needs had been praying in recent months that Pastor Joshua from Kenya would receive his visa and be able to join us in the UK for two weeks of deputation visits to various churches and supporters’ groups. His visa was refused. Was our praying without purpose or effect? I don’t think so. In some mysterious way I believe the greater purposes of God have been served. In this and in many other ways my experience is that prayer benefits others – those we pray for. God heals, brings new life, gives courage, guides and brings unity. But most of all God brings hope where there is otherwise despair. Prayer also benefits us as we pray. When we pray for others something happens to us too. The more we pray, the more we begin to glean what God’s heart is for those we pray for – we better understand how God is moving in the situation, our prayers become more focussed and effective and we move closer to the Father heart of God. In another mysterious way, our motives and actions change. For Pastor Joshua – we have stood with him and some of us have told his story to others, perhaps understanding it is a deeper way because of the situation. May you know the God’s transformative blessing as you pray.