Are Your Prayers Changing What Really Matters?
If all of your prayers were answered, would it make your life easier and that's it (only change your situation)? Or would it also change you and make you look more like Christ?
Are You Being Passive About Your Growth?
Our faith isn't meant to be passive. There can be a tendency to shy away from praying prayers that would challenge us, like praying for patience or perseverance. However, if we’re serious about growing in our faith then we have to be willing to ask God to change and develop our character, and not just our situation.
Years ago, I remember saying that I didn’t want to pray for patience because I didn’t want to be tested. Well here’s what I learned. The tests will come, whether you ask for them or not. Why not desire to grow in that area? What would our lives look like if we stopped waiting to "magically" reflect the character of God and started actively pursuing it?
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24
I don’t say this to be harsh but out of love. I want you to experience the fullness of the life God has for you. My prayer life radically changed when I started asking God to change me more than I asked Him to change my situation. I’m not saying you shouldn’t pray for God to intervene in your circumstances, because you should. However, sometimes His intervention isn’t removing us from the storm, but walking with us through it.
Related Post - 5 Things to Consider For a Deeper Prayer Life
Embrace the Process, Don’t Run From It
The tests, trials, pruning, and wilderness seasons are meant to strengthen our faith and transform us into the image of God. Often, God develops our character by allowing us to experience situations that challenge our flesh and require us to rely on Him. Why? To help the roots of your faith grow deeper and break through the surface-level Christianity that is comfortable yet detrimental. God’s will won’t always feel good but it will always be good for you.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:6-7
The key is leaning into it instead of running from it. Fortunately, we don’t have to do this in our strength. God empowers us through the Holy Spirit. The goal isn’t striving to be better for the sake of being better, it’s falling more in love with God and accepting the call to follow Him. Intimately knowing His love for you will spark a desire to grow spiritually. But be careful not to coast on feelings. Like any relationship, it requires intentionality. We fall in love with God, but there will be temptations and distractions. We have to choose Him every single day.
That choice, the submission, is the beginning of your transformation. As you submit to God, He’ll change your character. When your character changes your prayers will too. As the Holy Spirit transforms you, He’ll remove bitterness and replace it with compassion. As a result, you’ll vent less about that annoying co-worker and pray more for their salvation. Once you allow God to heal your insecurities you’ll be better able to share Truth without fear of rejection, because you’ll know you’re fully accepted by the One who matters most.
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
When my eyes are fixed on God and His goodness, my prayers focus more focused on what affects eternity. I’m not perfect at it, I fall short daily. I am, however, progressing at letting go of my will and allowing God to align my desires with His.
Evaluate the types of prayers you’re praying. It’s okay to pray for the things you want, but be sure to pray for the person you want to become. Our faith isn’t just for us. Actively pursue chances to live like Christ. We are God’s ambassadors on earth and are called to glorify Him in all we do. Do your prayers reflect that? If they don’t yet, it’s okay. You are not less than or condemned in Christ. Simply choose today to go deeper and start seeking God on what you’re next step should be. He is faithful to guide and give us wisdom when we ask.
