What Prayer Does – Part 1

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  02/04/25

Scripture: Colossians 1:9; Matthew 6; Jeremiah 29:11

Most of the questions we ask concerning life do not have answers clearly defined in God’s Word. For example, there is not a Scripture advising one to marry a certain person on a certain date. However, there are guidelines about marriage and other life events that are perfectly outlined in God’s Word. It is up to us to take the time to pray and ask God to reveal the Truth to us.

Prayer not only helps us discover the will of God for our lives, it also deepens our relationship with the Savior. Through prayer, we discover the depths of God’s mercy and love for us. It is also how we confess our sin and receive His forgiveness.

Prayer is an opportunity for us to communicate with the Lord of heaven and earth. In prayer, we ask God to do what only He can do. Jesus gave us a pattern to follow in prayer when He prayed what we now know as the Lord’s Prayer—recorded in Matthew 6.

Some who read this prayer have never thought about the fact that God has a plan and a purpose for their lives, a plan of hope and future opportunity (see Jeremiah 29:11). Prayer provides the right opportunity for God’s promises to be embedded in our hearts and minds. And if we trust the Lord for our future, He will provide the strength we need to face life’s challenges victoriously.

Prayer: Father, thank You that we can pray to You, knowing that You want to hear from us and that it is through prayer that we discover Your will for our lives. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.