The Main Ways That Prayer Changes Us

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Share it. But most of all, thank you for listening to the Truth Podcast Network. And now, here's James. Well, today on Encouraging Prayer, we're going to talk about one of the main ways that prayer changes us. So, James, go ahead and take it away.

All right. Well, Robbie, on my desk, I have this little plaque that I found at the thrift store, and it says, prayer changes me. And I keep it there because it's a reminder of one of the main reasons I need to pray. And there's a great piece in Today's Our Daily Bread.

It's written by my friend Leslie Ko, who lives in Singapore. And Leslie tells about a man in his church who was difficult to get along with. He writes, For years, John had been somewhat of an irritant at church. He was bad-tempered, demanding, and often rude.

He complained constantly about not being, quote-unquote, served well, and about volunteers and staff not doing their job. He was, honestly, hard to love. And that's a little bit of a difficult description, you know, if you heard that being said about yourself. But we've all been there, haven't we? I mean, we all have those people in our lives sometimes who are just hard to love. And when it happens at church, it's all the more challenging because, you know, you expect that in the world, but we just naturally feel that church shouldn't be that way. Oh, yeah, right. Even though the church is a hospital for sinners, so we all have those places where, you know, I guess Dr. Jesus is trying to help us. That's a good way to put it.

So here's where the plot thickens a bit. Leslie writes, When I heard that he had been diagnosed with cancer, I found it difficult to pray for him. Memories of his harsh words and unpleasant character filled my mind.

But remembering Jesus' call to love, I was trying to say a simple prayer for John each day. And then he makes this amazing observation. A few days later, I found myself beginning to think a bit less about his unlikeable qualities. He must really be hurting, I thought. Perhaps he's feeling really lost now.

Oh, wow. I see where you're going with this. I mean, that really is one of the main ways God changes us when we pray for others. He helps us to think about them more and softens our hearts really towards them. Yeah, yeah.

And that's just it, Robbie. I mean, this is primarily something that you see only in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, you know, you see some of, for example, David's prayers about his enemies in the Psalms, and they have this common theme, which is sort of, get them, God.

And hey, context is everything. David was frequently being oppressed by Saul and other evil people. And there are times where it is totally appropriate to pray that God frustrate the plans of an enemy and lead them to defeat, especially when it's a battle between good and evil. But when you get to Jesus in the New Testament, you see him giving this advice in Luke 6, 27 and 28. But to you who are listening, I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

You're right. And I think that's one of the parts of the Bible that we sometimes read over a little too quickly, right? Robert Chisholm Yeah, I totally agree, Robbie, because it's so challenging for us. I mean, that's not where our hearts want to go, but that's where Jesus takes us.

Darrell Bock Oh, yeah. That's really a timely word for the situation we're living in today, isn't it? I mean, so many people are at odds with each other and no longer treat each other as people with differences to discuss. They see them as obstacles to overcome.

Robert Chisholm Yeah, yeah, that's just it. And especially, you know, as we're heading into a political year, I think you can see that more and more. But, you know, here's Jesus telling us to bless others, especially those with whom we, you know, are at odds, and blessing is a form of prayer. And then he just says it, pray for them. So I have to wonder if one of the reasons why he does this is because it helps us no longer objectify people, you know, but to see others as human beings made in the image of God.

But again, this is so challenging for us. Remember how Leslie said that it was difficult to pray for John? I mean, haven't we all felt that?

We immediately want to go to the things that they've done wrong or the things that we don't like about them. And in one sense, it's okay to go there so that, you know, we pray about that stuff and get it out of the way. But then what about asking God, how would you like me to pray for them? And then really listening for what God has to say.

Are you saying that God doesn't always agree with us about the way we feel about other people? That's a really good thing to take up with him, don't you? Oh, yeah. Well, you know, I don't know that I want to, but I guess that's just the point, isn't it? Because this really is challenging for me, but it's, you know, it's up to God in those places.

Right, right. I mean, this helps us let him in, and it helps us to be more like Jesus. And think about some of his last words on the cross.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And even as I'm saying this, Robbie, I'm reminded, man, this is so much easier to say than it is to do. But think about Jesus. I mean, in that moment, his mind is on his enemies in a way that he has compassion for them. Yeah, talk about hard to love.

Somebody is driving a nail through your hand. I mean, that's unthinkable, really? I mean, so true that if I think we see it that way, I mean, it would make things a whole lot easier. Right, right. What I found really helps us to imagine Jesus is right there with me, as I'm praying for someone that I have trouble with. And that helps me keep my eyes on him. And, you know, not just dwell on someone else's fault. And this doesn't mean that we should overlook realities that need to be addressed or wrongs that need to be righted.

You know, if there's a situation of abuse that is dangerous, and must not be tolerated, or, you know, where the safety of children is at stake, you know, we still take our stand on what is right. But giving the whole thing to Jesus, letting him into the moment, makes doing this so much easier. Again, you know, keeping our eyes on him, because he helps us get our heads clear. And, you know, not just to react with our wills, but to see things through his. And at the end of the day, it's clear he wants us to do this, to pray for our enemies or those we simply just don't care for. And when we do that, I think we really take one step closer to him.

Oh, yeah, I do too. But we definitely need his help to do it. So I think it'd be good if we wrap this up by, you know, asking for him to do that. So I'll just go ahead and pray, Lord, thank you for this encouragement, right? And for this fresh thought that when we begin to feel that offense, that it would remind us, help me to pray for this person, help me to have eyes to see them as you do, help me to seek what you want for them, Lord, help us to do that as we feel that like a check engine light going off.

I'm feeling offended that maybe I need to pray for that other person. Lord, I thank you so much for this encouragement. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. And you can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. This is the Truth Network.