"Prayer Changes Everything"

by Dr. Ann Pearson on August 17, 2020

James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

We all experience times of prayer in our lives and I believe that today is no different. Prayer is a time of worship with God and it offers us a time to connect with Him through our petitions and requests as well as listening to what He has to say. Prayer needs to be a two way conversation. Listening can be the most difficult challenge when we are communicating with God. Many of you have heard me say that God guides me through every day of my life. This is not to say I have it all figured out. It is saying I am learning to be more intentional and obedient in my walk with my Heavenly Father. I wait to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit before I make a decision. I am soulfully in love with God and trust His guidance in my life.

God Can Change our Responses:

God has changed my reaction and responses in every circumstance I face. This can only come through my time that I have spent in prayer. I still encounter troubling heartbreaking times when my church family is hurting but I have the assurance that God will provide a way to make all things new. Sometimes I have to just keep believing when I can’t see how things are going to turn out. I put my faith in Him and trust and know that God is bigger than any challenge I face.

Phillipians 4:6, 7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer Gives Us the Opportunity to Ask:

Prayer gives us the opportunity to ask for the things that we desire and if God believes it is the best for us He will provide. God knows the full scope of our needs. He answers our prayers many times with three responses; no, wait and yes. Our disappointments may still come but as we grow in the maturity of our faith we will hopefully see the wisdom in God’s provisions.

Jeremiah 29:12
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Prayer Changes our Relationship:

Our investment through communicating with our Heavenly Father can allow us to become closer to Him. We have all heard the amount of time one puts into any relationship will enhance and add value to that relationship. Your relationship with God is vital to every aspect of your Christian walk; your dating life, the health of your marriage, your family relationships and your professional career. Your opinions and the decisions you make reflect on your personal walk with the Lord. The question that we might need to ask ourselves, are we spending more time with God or having our time consumed with other things? Our witness for God will be limited till we begin the journey of fully surrendering to Him.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prayer:

Lord let us come to you with open hearts and spend time in the quietness of your presence. We want to follow you and are discovering that dedication and commitment are required to be all that you have called us to be. Help us to hear when you speak to us and be obedient to your will. We ask these things in Christ’s Holy Name. Amen

My love and prayers,
Ann

About the Author

Dr. Ann Pearson

Ann graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Consumer Economics and household Equipment. She has a Masters in Science in Grief Counseling and Thanatology as well as a Doctorate in Philosophy of Pastoral Counseling and Thanatology from Breyer State University.

Her early professional career was spent working with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Knoxville, helping families of low income; working for the City of Charlotte Public Works Dept. and as a preschool teacher in Knoxville, Tennessee, Mobile and Fairhope AL. Ann has lived in Fairhope since 1986 where she immediately began serving in the youth department of Fairhope UMC. She joined the staff in 1990 as Youth Director, serving twice in this position and was also the interim Director of Children and Family Ministries for two years here! Ann had dual positions here at Fairhope UMC as Youth Director and Director of Caring Ministries which led to her becoming the full time Director of Caring Ministries in 2000. Ann loves her church family and appreciates the humble opportunity to be serving in this community. Ann has 2 children: daughter, Allison (Ryan) and son, Brad (Kate) and four granddaughters between the two! You will come to know she is passionate about University of Alabama Football, Grayton Beach and taking care of the people in this community by offering love, peace and God’s grace.

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