DAY 36: Prayer

Prayer Changes Everything

Luke 18:1-8

And he told the parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.


World hunger is one of those big huge issues that seem unsolvable. What if everyone prayed for an end to world hunger? Would it make a difference? It's hard to imagine, unless we broaden our idea of what happens when we pray.

Prayer doesn't just call on God to change things; it changes us in the process. If we pray every day for world hunger to end, we will start to see the world differently. We will start noticing the ways our world keeps some people poor and some people rich. We will notice people on the streets. We will notice organizations that are trying to help eliminate hunger, poverty, illness, and homelessness. The more you see and think about these things, the more you will feel called into action to do what you can to fight hunger and injustice. New ways of thinking and acting will become natural as God's Spirit works in you.

If everyone were praying daily for an end to world hunger, and began to notice hunger and its causes daily, and were motivated to act against hunger by what they saw, then we would surely see positive changes happen. That's how God often works through our prayers--we become part of God's answer.


Think of a time in history when a person's (or people's) prayer moved them to action and changed the course of history? What am I praying about? What have I been asking or telling God?


Prayer:
Gracious God, help me to see how prayer works in this world. Help me to understand that when I call on you, you also call on me and all humanity together to bring about change and healing in this world. Amen


Action step:
Find a justice issue you care about, and make it your goal to pray each day about that issue. Notice the ways it changes you, and listen for how God calls you to action. Go to the Youth Challenge² prayer Web site and use the prayers there.

contributed by Holly Johnson