A Fresh Perspective on Prayer

On the final day of our track, Louie Giglio reminds us of a powerful story in the book of Acts, where when confronted with violence, schemes, and plots, the Apostles Peter and John prayed a powerful prayer, not asking God to change the situation, but asking for God to use them powerfully amidst the situation.

Just like in Acts 4:29, when we face a difficult situation, instead of telling God what to do, we can remember we are His children, He is God, and trust Him. We, too, can ask God to "consider the threats, enable your servants."

Just look at what happens after Peter and John pray this prayer, a prayer not to change the circumstances but to empower them to do God’s will.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Acts 4:31-35

Peter and John’s prayer in the middle of persecution, a prayer of surrender and empowerment, was a plea for God to accomplish His will, not their own, and He did. Herod and Pontius Pilate had conspired against them, but what they meant for evil, God used for good. The word of God was flung far and wide, and generosity sprung up.

So, today, in your circumstances, amidst all that may be happening, are you praying as a loved child? Are you pausing to remember who you are praying to? And are you willing to not just pray for the answer but to pray for God to use you as a part of the answer?

Are you praying for God to change the situation, or are you praying for Him to change you?

This is the mindset that He is calling you to internalize. Write this down, and keep it somewhere you can see it often:

I want to be constantly aware that my Father is the Sovereign King, and He looks after me, but He’s also ruling everything. I don’t give Him directives. I ask Him to direct me, and more than asking for answers, I ask to be the answer so that earth can see heaven in me.

There may be days when it doesn’t look like God is looking after you, but remember that all of us walk by faith and not by sight, and despite what we can see with our eyes, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that even a trying situation will result in the best outcome.

And so we will pray for God:

To move

To heal

To deliver

To bring salvation

To bring peace

To bring light

To break chains

To open doors

To break strongholds

To release kingdom truth in power and love

But MORE than to ask for answers, we will ask to BE the answer. We’ll move from asking God to do something to asking God what He wants us to do so that on Earth, the people around us will see Heaven in us.