Prayer Changes the Man
Prayer changes the man by bringing his will into line with God's will, enabling God to do what He has been willing to do.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that prayer is not about persuading God to change His mind or will, but rather about aligning our will with His divine purpose. He explains that while God is unchanging, prayer serves to transform the individual praying, allowing them to understand and accept God's intentions. Tozer illustrates that God's love is always at work, ready to respond to our prayers in ways that fulfill His will, not ours. Ultimately, prayer changes the man, enabling God to act in accordance with His eternal plans. The sermon concludes with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the privilege of prayer and the importance of submitting to God's will.
Text
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. --John 14:13-14
In all our praying, however, it is important that we keep in mind that God will not alter His eternal purposes at the word of a man. We do not pray in order to persuade God to change His mind. Prayer is not an assault upon the reluctance of God, nor an effort to secure a suspension of His will for us or for those for whom we pray. Prayer is not intended to overcome God and "move His arm." God will never be other than Himself, no matter how many people pray, nor how long nor how earnestly.
God's love desires the best for all of us, and He desires to give us the best at any cost. He will open rivers in desert places, still turbulent waves, quiet the wind, bring water from the rock, send an angel to release an apostle from prison, feed an orphanage, open a land long closed to the gospel. All these things and a thousand others He has done and will do in answer to prayer, but only because it had been His will to do it from the beginning. No one persuades Him.
What the praying man does is to bring his will into line with the will of God so God can do what He has all along been willing to do. Thus prayer changes the man and enables God to change things in answer to man's prayer. The Price of Neglect, pp. 51-52
"Eternal God, I realize that I am in no position to tell You how to run Your universe--or even my tiny corner of it. Yet somehow You have given me the awesome privilege of communing with You, bringing my requests, and waiting upon You to bring my will in line with Yours. Then somehow You work in answer to my prayer! Thank You. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- Prayer and God's Will
- God's will is not altered by prayer
- Prayer is not an effort to persuade God
- God's will remains unchanged despite prayer
Key Quotes
“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. --John 14:13-14” — A.W. Tozer
“Eternal God, I realize that I am in no position to tell You how to run Your universe--or even my tiny corner of it. Yet somehow You have given me the awesome privilege of communing with You, bringing my requests, and waiting upon You to bring my will in line with Yours. Then somehow You work in answer to my prayer! Thank You. Amen.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Prayer is not about persuading God, but about aligning our will with His.
- God's will remains unchanged despite our prayers, but He works in answer to our prayer to bring our will in line with His.
- Faith and trust are essential in prayer, trusting that God will work in answer to our prayer.