Prayer Changes Things

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”—Matthew 17:20 (ESV)

For Insight

There are two ways we experience change as a result of praying to God. One way is through dramatic events and sudden changes, and another way is subtle changes, over a longer period of time.

When change happens dramatically or suddenly, we are excited. We can see how quickly our prayers of faith moved mountains and are powerful, and we are encouraged to talk positively about our experience and what God has done through our prayers. Through sudden change we are encouraged to pray harder, more fervently, and more frequently.  

It’s not hard to recognize the sudden or dramatic results of prayer but it may be harder and more difficult to see or put our finger on change when change happens slowly, over a longer period. Slow, almost unrecognizable changes make us question if our prayers are doing anything at all, if God is keeping his promise, and we begin to doubt if change will ever occur. Slow change challenges our faith in God and tests our endurance.

If a mountain was reduced in size over a period of time due to environmental changes, we would not recognize it until someone did a study and presented the facts, but if it a mountain were to shrink in size suddenly within days or months, we would marvel and be astonished at how such a thing could happen.

God promises our prayers of faith will result in moved mountains. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “all the promises of God have found their “yes” in Christ Jesus. We may not see our mountain shrinking or being moved out of the way as we pray, but God is at work and always keeps his end of a conditional promise.

A good thing to remember when change is slow to come, is that prayer is our work and change is God’s miracle. Prayer works just the way God promises it will. We just need to believe and do our part and let God handle his end.

Jesus, when change happens slowly it’s hard to stay encouraged to pray. May we believe your promise in Matthew 17 and continue to pray until the mountain is moved. Amen

On a Scale of 1-10

How strongly do you believe prayer changes things? Looking back over past prayer concerns how have you witnessed change in you, others, and circumstances?