When Prayer Does What Soldiers Can’t

Our conversations are sometimes robotic when we discuss prayer. Like humanoid android machines programmed with appropriate responses, we say things like “You’re in my prayers,” “Pray for me as I pray for you,” and the classic, “Keep me in your prayers.” But do these phrases reflect a genuine desire and belief in prayer—and a belief that the person will indeed pray for us? Think about it. Do we really expect people to pray for us when we make the frequently robotized request, “Keep me in your prayers?” Let’s concede that we sometimes say these things without thinking.

And here’s another phrase—“Prayer changes things.” That’s an expression many articulate without thinking or fully acknowledging its significance. But today, let’s pause and ask ourselves if we really believe it. Do we genuinely believe prayer changes things . . . ?

And is it possible to believe yet still let life’s negative circumstances infect us with temporary unbelief? Yes, certainly. I was reminded of that during a noon-day prayer session. I had joined the prayer after receiving discouraging news. But as I was praying along, someone uttered one Scripture during the corporate prayer that ignited my faith. Just one utterance of someone else’s prayer lifted me to renewed faith. Like a transmission that shifted gears, my faith shifted, and my prayer reflected it. Not only did my countenance change, but also the atmosphere of the prayer gathering. So yes, of course, prayer changes things, and here’s some encouragement to prevent temporary unbelief when it comes to the power of prayer.

Prayer not only changes things but wins victories in spiritual and natural battles. On December 14, 1944, during World War II, General George S. Patton wrote this about prayer in a letter to the chaplains of the Third Army:

Those who pray do more for the world than those who fight; and if the world goes from bad to worse, it is because there are more battles than prayers. “Hands lifted up,” said Bossuet, “smash more battalions than hands that strike.” Gideon of Bible fame was least in his father’s house. He came from Israel’s smallest tribe. But he was a mighty man of valor. His strength lay not in his military might, but in his recognition of God’s proper claims upon his life. He reduced his Army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred men lest the people of Israel would think that their valor had saved them. We have no intention to reduce our vast striking force. But we must urge, instruct, and indoctrinate every fighting man to pray as well as fight. In Gideon’s day, and in our own, spiritually alert minorities carry the burdens and bring the victories. Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle. Pray for the defeat of our wicked enemy whose banner is injustice and whose good is oppression. Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and Pray for Peace.

General Patton knew this—one prayer uttered, one Scripture declared can change everything. Let your faith that prayer changes things be renewed today.

Lenita Reeves

#WednesdayWisdom #pastorlenita

Lenita is the senior pastor of Action Chapel Baltimore and Action Chapel North Carolina churches. She is an author of nine books, international speaker, founder of PrayerWatch with Pastor Lenita, and creator of the Purpose/full Institute, which helps people discover and hone their divine purpose. She is a former Accenture consultant with college teaching experience, professional instructional design experience, a member of the RAINN speaker’s bureau, a trained pastoral counselor, and a Christian International/Bishop Hamon authorized prophetic instructor. Sign up to connect, receive more blog posts, and updates on courses, books, and events.