Prayer Changes Things
June 5, 2020
My mother used to play the piano and sing this song “I know prayer changes things”. There were occasions I didn’t understand, while looking for the evidences. It was when I had run out of words and tears and nothing had changed. I can recall the only word I could say came out as a whisper and it was “help” in lowercase letters, a whisper. I would like to say that it was merely a few times in my life, but since I’m being transparent, this has been the scene quite a few times over the past years.
What is prayer exactly; it is a conversation with God. This is my definition throughout this discussion. Prayer is a conversation with God, let just stop there for a moment, a God which sees and knows all. I think about the times I felt that God had let me down. The eviction notice arrived, the car repossessed, and the surgeon had to go ahead with the operation all after praying for specific results. What happened with my communication with God, was he listening, did he care… what?
When I think of my eviction notice, which was years ago, they came around and handed the notice in person. As much as I wanted to call the police to report my car was being stolen as the tow truck pulled out the parking lot of my apartment with my car, I instead called for a bus schedule. Doing those past years of my life when it appeared God didn’t answer, it took a while for me to talk to him again. He had let me down, plus I was very busy trying to find a place to live, yet I must admit riding the bus gave me an opportunity to do a lot of thinking.
After being evicted, I rented a room in a delightful place. It covered everything, even meals. This was the first time in years (since the start of my adult life I could breathe) I didn’t have to worry with the winter utility bills, having enough money to buy food, which was always last on the list. Did God answer my prayers?
As we fast forward to my current life’s journey. I still encounter some situations that left me with no tears and I barely had strength to whisper “help”, but those times have been few. What I do differently today is, I never ever quit talking to God. Through the years I have learned to finish each conversation with “not my will, but let thou will be” and mean it. Was this hard to do, yes it was. As the situation got closer and I didn’t even see a sign of the answer. I learned to respond “thank you, God!” Do I still get nervous… you bet I do; do I even shed some tears… yes, however not as many?
What I would do for a long time after it appeared God hadn’t answer my prayers, and I was talking to God again (not talking to God left such a void in me). I would beat myself up for not trusting God, because I decided that was why God didn’t answer my prayer (s). Another reason was I felt it was the way I prayed, was I specific enough. I knew I had asked specifics in my prayer… I need money for my rent and car note, these are specifics.
I want to bring this out because people in their effort to help God out, will instruct you to be more specific. “Tell God specifically, detail it, describe what you want” I did… money for my rent and car note! The conversation continues that you still weren’t specific enough. While this may be true I think this may have been a way to justice how they felt about their unanswered prayers.
Instead, what I have learned is there are things I want for me and there are things (before the foundation of the world) God has destined for me. So now I face a decision to hold out for what I want or trust God for what he wants for my life. Especially, those times when I couldn’t recognize anything I saw as being my answer, while still waiting for him to move.
We want God’s best, but with our conditions attached. We pray, but with the answer in mind. We pace the floor as we regard what we see in the physical realm, rather than walking by faith. Now I see Faith and I are walking side by side in two different dimensional realms. Faith is always carrying the true substance for the particular thing I need, which is God’s best for me.
As children, we always think we know what's best for us. When our parent can see what is best for us, we can’t understand and assume they are mean and don’t want us to have anything. They can understand what we can’t. When we bypassed God and get what we wanted, subsequently stress, breakdowns, confusion follows in too many cases because of what we thought were best for us.
People say to pray harder, fast more, shut yourself in and I don’t minimize any of this if that is what you believe God is instructing you to do, because there are cases he will. What I disagree with if you are applying these methods to get God to grant you what you have asked. (This is my belief; please do what you believe you should). God said "ask” and he said “if you say to the situation” and believe. We are human and flesh will become faint, but faith walking beside us will hold us up. I will end this discussion with a true story I heard by the late Bishop Norman Wagner.
A man he knew had called to inform him he had been asking for God to bless him financially, because he had been out of work for a while and he and his family were struggling. The man said they evicted him and he hired a moving truck to move their things into storage. When the mover got there, and they started moving his possession, the truck driver asks why he was moving his things into storage. The man told his situation, and he just broke down.
The driver started laughing and responded I rarely drive the trucks because I own the company. I decided today to do this and now I know why. The driver told the man he owned several properties and one house was vacant. At the end of the conversation, the driver moved the man and his family into the home and arranged that the man could stay there free for three months while he looked for a job. God has a plan… always and even when we make mistakes or move in choices, it did not take God by surprise. Meaning he still has a plan, a good plan designed for you and me! As my mother (Lorraine Lane) sing many years ago, “I Know Prayer Changes Things.”
Thank you for joining me for Friday at Sundown. Remember… Just Breathe!
(Personal Note: I first want to “Thank you” to everyone who has subscribed to my Blog. I want to say “Thank you” to everyone who has shared my Blog. I understand that many of you are opening the Blog on your mobile phone. When pulling up the information on your mobile phone, remember to tap on the three lines at the top right side for the menu to drop. The Discussion will be under Fridays. Stories and Poetry section will have either or both for the week. All Stories and Poetry is originally mine and has Copyrights! Please always check each section under the menu. Check your spam mail. If you get 2 or 3 emails, they are different (for some they have contacted me this is how they have been receiving Blog.) If possible, at least once pull up Blog on your computer for the full view. Again, thank you!)