Prayer Causes Things to Happen by John Piper

PO2 Jeremy Spears, this is a very timely post for me, so thank you for posting it! I'm experiencing some minor health issues, and my wife is going in for a medical procedure today. I didn't really need extra motivation to pray today, but the post is still right on time for me.

I definitely, 100%, know the power of prayer but it only works if you truly believe. Part of the problem though with prayer is God doesn't always answer in the way we'd like Him to. Sometimes He guides us in a slightly different direction we had not thought of. Other times, He doesn't respond because, unbeknownst to us, He has a greater purpose.

I highly recommend reading Dr Ben Carson's story "Gifted Hands" as well as watching the movie. He knows his talent and "gifted hands" are from God, who guides his hands as he performs very delicate and intrinsically hard operations. Without a doubt, prayer has sustained him, me and many others.

The thing I witness change the most through prayer, is me. How I respond to situations, G-d does not necessarily change the situation, especially if it is brought about by our own stupidity, but how we respond often impacts the outcome. If you smoke 3 packs of cigarettes a day, don't be surprised when you get lung cancer, and don't expect G-d to necessarily "heal" you either. When G-d created the universe, certain laws were also set in motion. One such law is cause and effect. If you do "X" expect "Y" over eat often? Most likely obesity is in your future along with all of the health issues involved. "G-d grant me the serenity to ACCEPT the things I CANNOT change, the courage to CHANGE the things I CAN, and the wisdom to KNOW THE DIFFERENCE." Prayer changes me, to transform me into the man G-d called me to be.