Prayer: Your First Line of Defense, Not Last Resort

20How many times a day do we see and hear people ask for prayer, say they prayed or given the response after something bad happens, “my thoughts and prayers are with you”? I’d say it happens a lot and I’m guilty of saying it too. While clearly nothing is wrong with it and prayer is a good thing, using it as a response to something bad seems like we are using it as a last resort to a bad situation. Dig what I mean? I recently read this quote,“Prayer is never the last resort, it’s the first line of defense!”We often don’t realize the power that prayer has to change circumstances, and we often forget that sometimes the greatest power of prayer is to change our own hearts and perspectives. Prayer reminds us that we are not in control but that we serve a God who is. Prayer allows us to surrender our worries, align our hearts with God’s, and practice depending on God. And prayer also changes us. It encourages us. And sometimes it challenges us to be an answer to the prayers we pray. Jesus taught us how to pray,“"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”Matthew 6:7-13 God knows what we want and what we need. We just need to talk to him and give it over to him. Listen, at the end of the day, prayer is less about getting what we want and more about realizing who we get to be connected to. It’s about surrendering control and trusting God to do things that seem impossible to us. And it’s something to do a lot, because it’s awesome to get to talk with the Creator of the universe. And we don’t just pray for something once. Jesus says us to keep praying. And we know that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful. So yeah, our prayers matter. They move the heart of God. They have the power to change circumstances. But above that, they always change us a little. Be Nice, Grace Wins!