Have you ever thought of this: How can prayer change me?
Prayer can change the way you think, the way you respond to people, and the way you handle what is happening in your life.
But sometimes the change is slower.
Prayer can help you see what is really going on
You may come to God worried, angry, discouraged, or unsure what to do.
Talking with God can help you be more honest about what is happening inside you.
Maybe you are holding onto anger.
Maybe you already know what you should do, but you do not want to do it.
Prayer gives you a place to admit those things. And it allows a space for God to work within you.
Prayer can change how you react
Maybe someone at work gets on your nerves.
Maybe a family member says something that immediately makes you angry.
Maybe you receive a message and want to respond quickly.
Prayer can help you pause.
You may still feel angry, but you can ask God to help you respond differently.
You might decide not to send the message you were about to send.
You might apologize or listen better.
You might not be prone to begin arguing.
Those can be real changes.
Prayer can change what you want
Sometimes you begin praying because you want God to change a situation.
That is okay.
But over time, you may start asking different questions.
Instead of only asking, “God, please fix this,” you might also ask, “What do You want me to do?”
Prayer is also about allowing God to change us, rather than trying to persuade God to do everything the way we want. Søren Kierkegaard wrote, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes the one who prays” (Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits, “An Occasional Discourse on the Occasion of Confession,” 1847). As we pray, God can reshape our desires, correct our thinking, expose selfish motives, and help us want what is good. We can still ask God to change a situation, but part of His answer may be changing something in us.
You may ask for wisdom, patience, courage, or compassion.
Your situation may not change immediately, but your attitude toward it may begin to change.
Prayer can change how you see other people
It can be hard to stay angry with someone while regularly praying for them.
That does not mean you have to trust someone who has hurt you.
But prayer can affect the way you think about them.
You may begin asking God to help them instead of wanting them to suffer.
You may realize that you need to forgive.
Or you may realize that you need to have an honest conversation or set a boundary.
Prayer can help you think more clearly about what the next step should be–about your actions and reactions in the situation.
Prayer can help with worry
You may have something that keeps running through your mind.
A decision.
Money.
Health.
A relationship.
Bring it to God.
And you may still need to take action.
Prayer does not mean doing nothing.
It means bringing God into what you are facing and asking God to change you, along with working to resolve the problem you’re concerned about.
Pay attention to gradual changes
You may not notice a dramatic difference after one prayer.
Look at what happens over time.
Are you becoming more patient?
Are you apologizing sooner?
Are you asking God for help before reacting?
Keep prayer connected to everyday life
You can pray before work, before a difficult conversation, while walking, or any time. You can also make prayer part of your regular devotional time. You do not need special words.
Tell God what is happening and ask Him to help you respond in the right way.
Here is a short prayer:
Dear God, change what needs to change in me. Help me see what is happening in my heart. Give me wisdom in my choices, patience with people, and courage to do what is right. Help me trust You with the things I cannot control. Amen