A pastor was preparing a sermon, but his little boy kept interrupting. Frustrated, he gave the boy a torn world map to fix, expecting it to take a long time. But the boy returned minutes later with the map perfectly assembled. Curious, the pastor asked how he did it so fast. The boy replied, “I fixed the man on the map, and the world fell into place.” This is also true about prayer.
Friend, prayer was not first designed to fix our problem. It was designed to be a platform of fellowship with God (Matthew 6:9). The fellowship that existed between God and Adam in Eden was not to fix their problem or change their situation. It was purely for fintimacy (Genesis 3:8).
Like Adam and Eve, if the devil can succeed in affecting your fellowship with God, he has already succeeded in creating problems for you (Genesis 3:1-9). A Christian who does not pray is not going to have a problem. He is already inside one. This is what the devil does not want you to know (2 Corinthians 2:11).
The devil does not want you to see prayerlessness as a problem (Matthew 26:40). He knows that with prayer, you can get out of every problem. With prayer, you would get out of the problems that your prayerlessness brought. When you have a problem, don’t run away from God. Run to Him (Psalm 61:2).
There are times that prayer is not to fix your problem, but you (Romans 12:2). When God is not changing your situation, you are the one that God is changing. This is another goal of prayer. It is to change you. When you are changed, you would gain mastery over life’s problems (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The greatest testimony that a Christian can have is the testimony of a changed life (Genesis 32:24-28). Like Jacob, when God succeeds at changing you, you would have what it takes to deal with your situations, including the devil. Let God work on your character, pride, prejudices, attitude, etc. Your situation would soon bow to you (Ephesians 6:10-12).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria