Evangelist George Mueller was on a ship when a thick fog settled over the ocean. It was Wednesday, and Mueller told the captain he had to be to his destination by Saturday. “Impossible,” he said. Mueller then bowed in prayer. When he stood up, the captain asked if he too could pray. “No,” Mueller said. “First, you do not believe He will answer; and second, I believe He has. And there is no need whatever for you to pray about it. . . . Get up, captain, and open the door, and you will find the fog gone.” Indeed, it had vanished.
Many believers—including pastors—say prayer changes us more than it changes circumstances. Prayer transforms us. But it can have real-world effects. Prayer can change people and circumstances according to God’s will. Not all prayers lead to spectacular results such as George Mueller experienced, but as James wrote, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16).
Moses and Daniel, among others in Scripture, found this to be true. After the Israelites worshiped the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain speaking to God, He threatened to destroy the Israelite nation (Exodus 32:5-10). But after Moses pleaded with God, He chose not to do so (James 5:14). In another account, an angel appeared to the prophet Daniel in a vision and said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer” (Daniel 10:12).
Yes, within God’s grace and sovereignty, prayer can change things—but He will decide what’s best. Bring your prayers about hardships, requested healing, dealing with sin, and more to Him today (James 5:13-16). He’s listening!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 26:1-32
More:
Read 1 Kings 18:41-46 and note how Elijah persisted in prayer.
Next:
Sometimes the Lord’s answer is “No.” Why is it important for that answer to not keep us from praying about other needs and concerns?
Gary Shultz on November 15, 2016 at 5:59 am
Hi Marlena, prayer is a strange and wonderful thing. I do not fully understand it, yet I am encouraged to with regularity participate in prayer activity. Interesting thoughts about loosing courage when an answer is “No”. I have to think that God did not get into the receiving end of prayer ill prepared to fulfill His purposes in our lives. But, being fully capable above what we ask or think, we must flex to God’s oversight of us, wrapped in His plan. No’s may remain no’s, but faith must not stall on the runway of prayer. Prayer is our pathway to God and it is always open for the believer who walks in the light. No’s are just as enriching as the yeses and we look to the relationship not just to the results we expected. God is and does the totally unexpected at times towards the pluses and toward the minuses. I am also a student of PUSH – pray until something happens. It would seem that God wants us to “push” persevere at times and as we seek a godly result, we strain toward that goal. I’m not nearly as good at prayer as I should be and the busyness of life steals much time I probably could invest in prayer. When I do get there I know it is God Almighty, mighty and stronger in any and all things we can bring to Him. I know He loves me and the people I pray for. That’s reassuring to me. Thanks Marlena
godlove on November 15, 2016 at 8:08 am
“Faith must not stall on the runway of prayer.” – I like that quote Gary. It’s true that faith can be tested when one has been expecting an answer to a particular prayer for very long, or when one gets the undesired answer to prayer, but we must be careful that the outcome of our prayers doesn’t determine our faith in GOD. Be blessed.
Marlena Graves on November 15, 2016 at 10:36 pm
So true. I heard an Eastern Orthodox priest say that he knows several people an unanswered prayer away from unbelief.
gagirllive on November 15, 2016 at 8:23 am
Well stated, BWO. This especially speaks to my heart—“…we look to the relationship not just to the results we expected.” Yes! It’s about that more than anything, isn’t it?
Marlena Graves on November 15, 2016 at 10:33 pm
I like ‘PUSH’. I’m doing that now!
godlove on November 15, 2016 at 7:57 am
Just as in the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8, Jesus Christ encourages us to pray ceaselessly and persistently. However, a prayer is not a command, so we must be ready to take “No” for an answer, keeping in mind that a seeming No in the immediate view might just be a big Yes in the larger scheme. But regardless of how God answers, we are priviledged to have this avenue through which we can talk directly to God, “and we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.” (1 John 5:14). Thank you Marlena. Blessings to everyone.
gagirllive on November 15, 2016 at 8:31 am
Amen, godlove. We are called to persistent prayer. I heard about a brother who was criticized by someone for bringing the same prayer request to the prayer meeting week after week. How sad! Praise God for not growing weary of our persistent requests, amen?
godlove on November 16, 2016 at 1:25 am
Amen, gagirl. I can testify to having many times had prayers answered after long and persistent asking, sometimes it took even years of asking, and I believe that God answered when the time was right, according to His will. So keep PUSH-ing, dear sister (in response to your comment below about having major prayer requests). Be blessed.
Marlena Graves on November 15, 2016 at 10:34 pm
I am being the persistent widow right now. Asking God to answer on behalf of someone else.
gagirllive on November 15, 2016 at 7:57 am
Marlena, stories of past “heroes of faith” are so encouraging. As I recall, George Mueller’s bio is filled with audacious prayers and miraculous answers to those prayers. That’s what made him so remarkable. He faithfully and consistently practiced “believing prayer”. Oh, that we would believe God and take Him at His word like that today! I had to chuckle as I read the captain’s response—“Impossible.”—concerning getting Mueller to his destination. I thought a good comeback by Mueller could have been, “No. I’ll tell you what’s impossible. Without faith it is impossible to please God. For He who comes to Him must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11: 6) That captain obviously learned quite a bit that day about the connection between faith and prayer. Mueller believed in a great God and had great faith in Him. But lest we get discouraged, I’m so thankful that it isn’t the size of our faith that matters. Jesus said that we could have faith as small as a mustard seed and say to our mountains, “be moved”. Yes, we certainly must come to God in faith, but the power rests in Him and His will, not in us. As for the “No” answers, I am learning to be content in them, Marlena. Convinced of His love for me, I trust that every denial is His protection and every disappointment is His-appointment to work something good in me. Some days it’s a real fight to hang on to that truth. I’m not at this place yet, but I see it in the distance, not too far off, and that is this—I want to be so satisfied and content in Him that the answers to my prayers are completely eclipsed by His glorious presence in my life. Right now, I have some pretty major prayer requests that are wanting to take center-stage. BUT GOD is teaching me so much “in the wait”. Prayer is changing me, but I’m believing that God will change much more! Thank you for this encouragement today, Marlena. Grace and peace to everyone.
hsnpoor on November 15, 2016 at 9:02 pm
I had a problem at work that has been going on for about 3-weeks because I didn’t want to deal with it and kept putting it off (I’m a recovering procrastinator and I backslide now and then). This was the last week to do something about it or it was gonna blow up into a really big problem. This has been making me anxious and I’ve lost sleep over it. I prayed mightily this morning for God to help me and he heard my cry and had mercy on me and my situation. He showed such favor in resolving this situation that a blind man would be able to see Him in the solution. I’ve got joy, joy, joy down in my soul! I am one happy girl today and this is truly a day the Lord has made and I am rejoicing in it! I also heard that quiet, firm voice telling me to “go and sin no more”…..
gagirllive on November 15, 2016 at 9:29 pm
Woo-hoo! Rejoicing with you, Kim! So glad that God has given you the favorable outcome that you prayed for, sister. 🙂
Marlena Graves on November 15, 2016 at 10:34 pm
I am so happy for you. Praise the Lord!
godlove on November 16, 2016 at 1:32 am
Wow! So happy for you, hsnpoor. More evidence (if we needed any) that God does hear us when we pray in faith and sometimes He answers us in such a glaring manner that it is impossible to doubt His Hand at work. Thanks for sharing your joy with us.
sim jing ying on November 15, 2016 at 1:02 pm
It is different to pray one thing than another even though when God says no to a prayer we need to pray as one of the verse says that we ought not to be anxious about anything but everything.
Marlena Graves on November 15, 2016 at 10:35 pm
That’s right, we need to keep praying, not be anxious, and give thanks in everything. That is a word for the day!