God Doesn’t Rank Our Prayers… Even if We Do

I looked around the room at the women gathered and tried desperately not to make eye contact with the leader.  There was no way I was going to let her put me on the spot by asking me to pray in this huge group of ladies.  Maybe if I kept my head down long enough someone else would volunteer before I felt the pressure.  Does this sound familiar or is it just me?

I am the first to admit that I am not very comfortable praying aloud.  I have never felt like it was something I am good at and honestly, I have always felt intimidated by people who I felt were “holier” than I am.

When we would do circle prayers in high school and college, I always tried to be one of the last to pray (in hope that they would run out of time before it was my turn).  As I got older I aimed to be the last to pray because anytime someone prayed after me I would spend their whole prayer comparing mine to theirs… and feeling like mine came up short.

What about you?  Are you comfortable praying aloud?  Or do you avoid it like the plague?

I can remember meeting people who I thought were amazing prayer warriors and wishing that I could be more like them.  When struggles came up in my life or in our marriage, I would get on the phone, calling those people and asking them to pray.  They sounded so comfortable when they prayed; surely their prayers would hold greater weight, right?

NEWS FLASH: God doesn’t rank our prayers!

Despite my need to rank the prayers of the people in my life, God does NOT look at us and choose which ones He is going to answer based on how powerful our prayers are (or how many people turn to us for prayer).  All through Scripture we hear over and over about normal everyday people crying out to God and that He answered their prayer:

• Genesis 25:21- “Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.
• Genesis 30:17- “and God answered Leah’s prayers.”
• 1 Kings 17:22- “the Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!”
• Psalm 120:1- “I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”
• Psalm 118:21- “I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory.”
• Psalm 116:1- “I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.”
• Psalm 102:17- “He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.”
• James 5:17- “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.”

You don’t have to be someone special (although in His eyes we all are) in order to pray a prayer that the Lord will hear.  The only thing it takes in order to pray a powerful prayer is belief.  You need to believe that He will answer; believe that He will meet the need; and believe that He is the all-knowing and powerful Father who knows which needs need to be met.

• Matthew 21:22-“and all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

My prayer life is not perfect, but I am trying desperately to trust in the all-knowing Father when I take my prayers to Him.  I still am not very comfortable lifting prayers up in public, but God is working on me in that area as well.  Likewise, your prayers can be just as powerful as the most amazing prayer warrior you know.  They can make just as big an impact and our heavenly Father hears them just as loud!

Do you struggle with believing that the Lord will answer your prayers?  Do you know that you can ask Him to meet your need on your own?  Do you have a need that you want others to intercede on your behalf for?  If you do, I would be happy to help encourage you.  Feel free to message me or comment below and I would be happy to lift your prayer up with you!