What Results From Our Praying?
When we grasp that God actually wants us to inquire of Him, prayer becomes less of a burden and more of a privilege
Have you ever wondered why some prayers seem to precede remarkable breakthroughs in your life?
This pattern isn't coincidental—it reflects a profound spiritual principle woven throughout Scripture and Christian experience. When we examine God's interactions with His people, we discover that prayer often serves as the key that unlocks Heaven's storehouse of blessings.
The Lord gives what He has in store for us, as we ask Him for them from His Word.
Thus says the Lord God: "I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them:" — Ezekiel 36:37
Prayer is the forerunner of mercy.
Turn to Biblical history, and you will find that hardly ever did some great mercy come to this world except by supplication.
Your own personal experience confirms this truth. While God has granted you many unasked favors, significant prayer has always preceded great mercy in your life. When you first found peace through the blood of the cross, you had been praying fervently, earnestly interceding with God to remove your doubts and deliver you from your distresses.
You sought Him, as did many we read of in the Gospels.
Your assurance was the result of prayer.
In moments of glorious joy, you have been aware of these experiences as answers to your prayers.
During times of deliverance from harsh troubles and protection in great dangers, you could confidently say, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
Take a moment to look back and reflect on one or two of those.
I recall once getting stuck in the snow alongside a two-lane highway. Realizing I was heading the wrong direction, I tried to turn around, and ended up getting my rear-wheel drive stuck.
I had a small shovel and some sand, but no matter what, I got more stuck. Cars whizzed by every so often, none bothering to help. Finally, after about a half-hour and tired, frustrated and humbled, I sat in the snow and cried out to the Lord for help.
Within moments, two trucks stopped and out hopped four guys. One had a tow chain and hooked up the backend. While he pulled from his pickup, three guys pushed from the front, while I drove in reverse.
Not even two minutes after they stopped, the car was out!
By the time I got out to thank them, both trucks had driven off. I’m not sure today if they were angels or men sent by the Lord. At just the right moment—after I’d prayed, He answered—sending aid, and a lesson.
It was as if Heaven's rescue squad had been hovering just above the snowbank, waiting for that simple prayer to deploy their divine assistance.
Prayer is always prior to the blessing.
Prayer precedes blessing as a shadow precedes the object casting it.
When the sunlight of God's mercies rises upon our necessities, it casts the shadow of prayer far down upon the plain. Consider a Spurgeon illustration: when God piles up a hill of mercies, He Himself shines behind them, casting on our spirits the shadow of prayer.
Therefore, we can be sure that when we devote ourselves to praying, our asking is the shadow of approaching mercy.
Prayer connects with blessing to reveal its true value, necessity, and importance.
Here’s the thing: If we received blessings without asking for them, we might consider them ordinary. Yet prayer transforms our mercies into treasures more valuable than diamonds. While the things we ask for hold inherent value, we fully grasp their value only after earnestly seeking them.
Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw; Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw; Gives exercise to faith and love; Brings every blessing from above. —C.H. Spurgeon
The blessing we seek comes as a direct result of our praying. Jesus promises, "Ask and you shall receive." The Lord invites us to ask, seek, and knock—and blessings follow.
So, if we lack grace, wisdom, favor, strength, love, peace, obedience, words, or help, we should first examine whether we have asked. Since God so graciously invites us to inquire of Him, we should eagerly embrace this privilege!
Understanding this vital connection between prayer and blessing transforms how we approach our relationship with God. Rather than viewing prayer as a mere religious duty, we can embrace it as the divine invitation it truly is—a gracious opportunity to participate in God's work in our lives and in the world. When we grasp that God actually wants us to inquire of Him, prayer becomes less of a burden and more of a privilege. Today, what blessing might be waiting for you to simply ask?
What About You?
Think about a time when you faced what seemed like an impossible situation and finally turned to prayer. What prevented you from praying sooner, and how did God's response change your perspective on prayer as "the forerunner of mercy"?
