I Didn’t Know How Prayer Worked

I didn’t get it.

Growing up in the church, I tried prayer. I really had. But I couldn’t figure out how it worked.

Ask and it will be given to you

I’d ask for something specific and sometimes I could see the answer, but most of the time I couldn’t. Why was one prayer answered and another left unanswered? Was there a secret code no one told me or was prayer just a random roll of the dice? For the life of me, I didn’t have a clue.

Seek and you will find

Though I personally knew Jesus Christ, I lived in a cloud of spiritual confusion until a friend recommended a book by Richard Foster called Celebration of Discipline. In his chapter on the spiritual discipline of prayer, Foster cut through the fog with this simple analogy.

If we turn on our television set and it does not work, we do not declare that there are no such things as electronic frequencies in the air or on the cable.  We assume something is wrong, something we can find and correct. 

We check the plug, switch, circuitry until we discover what is blocking the flow of this mysterious energy that transmits pictures.  We can know the problem has been found and fixed by seeing whether or not the TV works.

It is the same with prayer. We can determine if we are praying aright if the requests come to pass.  If not, we look for the “block”; perhaps we are praying wrongly, perhaps something inside us needs changing, perhaps there are new principles of prayer to be learned, perhaps patience and persistence are needed.

We listen, make the necessary adjustments, and try again. We can know that our prayers are being answered as surely as we can know that the television set is working (p. 38, Second edition).

While reading these words, I had a breakthrough. For the first time, I realized prayer was not hocus pocus. There was a form and order to it. It wasn’t dependent on getting the words right or catching God on a good day. It was much firmer than that.

Knock and the door will be opened to you

To my utter surprise, the ways of God could be learned! All we need to do is enter the laboratory of prayer called “everyday life” and start experimenting.

Blocks to prayer can be identified and removed. This mysterious energy that transmits life-changing power can reliably be released into others’ lives as well as my own. Learning God’s ways in prayer changes everything.  

If you have been experiencing a block in your prayer life lately, there’s good news. If you ask, God will reveal how to track it down and make the adjustments needed to remove it.

No one wants the mysterious energy of the Spirit to flow through you more than the God who created you.

30 Days

One concrete way to learn God’s ways is to take the 30-Day Prayer Challenge. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you the one prayer you need to bring before the Lord every day for the next 30 days.

What do you need Jesus Christ to do in your life that you can’t do? Is there some answer you are looking for, a clear direction, or inner healing? There may be an attitude you need God to change or a door you need God to open.

You may have a loved one who doesn’t know Christ. Perhaps someone close to you has a pressing need you want to bring before the Lord every day.

Whatever prayer the Spirit reveals, bring it before God every day for the next 30 days. Let’s see what God does and learn his ways.  

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

-Jesus, Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

“CONNECTING NEW FRIENDS WITH CHRIST” WORKSHOP ON MARCH 1 & 8

I’m excited to partner with the Illinois Great Rivers Conference to offer a new 2-hour workshop on sharing our faith. It’s designed to take a practical look at the motivation and skills needed to meet new people as well as engage with loved ones to help each one take steps toward Christ.

Two identical workshops will be offered:

• Saturday, March 1, 2025, 10 am to 12 noon – The United Methodist Conference Center, Springfield, IL 
  • Register here: https://igrc-reg.brtapp.com/ConnectingNewFriendswithChrist               

• Saturday, March 8, 2025, 10 am to 12 noon – Wesley UMC, 502 E Front St,, Bloomington, IL                  
  • Register here: https://igrc-reg.brtapp.com/ConnectingNewFriendswithChrist71

Each workshop is free. It would help if you register, but walk-ins are welcome.

Let’s go on this journey together and see how God may use us to make an eternal difference in someone’s life.

To receive Roger’s weekly posts about living and leading like Jesus, please subscribe for free here: https://rogerross.online/subscribe/