Prayer Changes Me
“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time – waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God – it changes me.” C.S. Lewis
One of my blogging friends, Theresa Moore, posted this quote on Facebook the other day and it really stuck with me. C.S. Lewis was such a brilliant man and has such a wonderful way of explaining faith and related matters.
I especially can relate to the last part of the quote: “It doesn’t change God – it changes me.” That is so true. God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But by spending time with Him in prayer I am changed to be more like Him each day. As I pray for the ability to see me as He sees me – both as I am and as He desires me to be – I grow in faith and understanding. I cannot help but be changed by this process.
I have found another thing about prayer. Jesus said that we should pray for our enemies and for those who persecute us. When we do this, our tendency is to pray that God would change them. But prayer seldom changes the difficult people in our lives (though on occasion it can). What prayer for our enemies does is change our attitude towards them. When I earnestly pray for the difficult people in my life, God helps me to see them from His perspective and to understand a little better why they might be the way they are and the root of their difficult behavior.
Prayer doesn’t change my enemies – it changes me. It helps me gain the wisdom and compassion necessary to love them as God has called me to do. And when I love them, perhaps I might help them to change, too.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19-21 (NIV).
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I think this is the first time I have seen this. It was just what I needed to see at the time. I was asleep, and had a troubling dream about one of my troubles, so I decided to read some blogs. I had intended to read some from your blog yesterday, but got distracted. Then when I woke up I found a link to this post in my dashboard.
Blessings,
Theresa
Theresa, God’s timing is perfect! What I wrote last May was what you needed to read today, and He knew it. 🙂 Peace, Linda
This is so encouraging to think about, because you know how there is so much we can’t control .. like other people! haha! But we can put ourselves under His control and ask Him to change us. I’ve seen this in my life over and over as many situations and people don’t change, but He keeps changing me. 🙂 God bless you and yours and all the good change He brings your way!
Deb, It is encouraging to be able to look back and see how He has changed me over the years as I pray. You are right that is so many situations others do not change – and thankfully God doesn’t change either. He is always faithful to answer our prayers. 🙂 Peace, Linda
Well written! This is what all Christian should know. I really enjoyed this. Thanks Linda.