Prayer works!

I have heard people say, “prayer doesn’t work for me.” When someone expresses this frustration I believe it is because that person may not understand prayer nor how it is supposed to ‘work.’

Last week we had a video call with Elder Juan Pablo Villar, a member of our Area Presidency. During which, he taught President Chipman and I about prayer from the Bible Dictionary where we read the following excerpt:

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

This short and clear paragraph outlines why we need to pray and why seeking God’s will is vital. Despite this, we are asked to do our best to make good things happen, but in the end we must leave to God the management of the blessings and what they look like. Trusting God is essential throughout this process. In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says ”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.”

I find these teachings comforting as I prayerfully look to the future after the mission and wonder what is next for us. I know that our loving Father in Heaven has a plan for each of his children and I’m old enough to have seen how things eventually work out when we place our trust in God and as we prayerfully seek his will and blessings. We are in good hands!

In His Name