We never know the impact our prayers may have. In Facing the Giants a faithful man prays over the lockers at the local school for years and doesn’t see the impact till revival hit the students. Another story is from the book Children and the Supernatural when prayers in the US impcat the life of missionaries on foreign soil.
Prayer makes an impact, whether we see the results immediately or never.
My friends and family prayed for me for years during the time in my life where I rejected God, but their prayers made an impact. There were key moments during that time when I know their prayers made an impact.
When I was in Uganda, speaking at a women’s conference, at the end myself and the others speakers prayed for many of the women there for healing and many other things. We each had a translator that gave us a quick snap shot of their requests for prayer. But there was still a language barrier. As I prayed, I prayed in English and in tongues.
I didn’t understand everything the ladies were saying to me and they didn’t understand what I was saying, but God understood it all; lady after lady came up and they were either healed or their prayer was answered. It wasn’t about the words, but about our hearts and the openness to allow the Holy Spirit to work through me and in them.
Prayer is a conversation with God and we may not always like or understand the answers, or we may be completely astounded and overwhelmed by the answers.
But the one thing I hold true, is that prayer is not something to be afraid.
Pray for those you love and pray for those you don’t, you never know the impact.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash