Prayer Changes Hearts, Minds and Societies

Nothing in the universe is more powerful in changing circumstances than prayer. Nothing in the universe is more effective in changing lives than the gospel. And nothing in the universe bears more lasting fruit than making a true disciple. Nothing! That’s why everything we do must be grounded in prayer, grounded in evangelism, grounded in disciple making. Everything we do must be grounded in setting captives free, in lifting up Jesus, in ministering in the anointing of the Spirit. Everything we do must flow out of the truth of God’s unchangeable Word. This is how we win the battle. This is how we bring about lasting change. This is how we can see transformation come.

To be sure, we live in a fallen world, and it will remain fallen until Jesus returns. That’s why, as we look at all the things we can do as godly reformers, we must remind ourselves that everything starts in prayer and that not only does God Himself hold the answers to our society’s problems, but He Himself is the answer.

I have no doubt that the early believers were praying for Saul of Tarsus, their arch persecutor. After all, Jesus had taught His followers to pray for those who persecuted them (see Matthew 5:44), and Acts tells us that Saul approved of the killing of Stephen and that he “began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:1, 3). Sometime later, Acts records, “Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1–2).

I can’t imagine that the believers were not praying for this violent enemy of their faith, a man who later said of himself, “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man” (1 Tim. 1:13). Yet this man became the writer of almost half the New Testament and one of the most influential spiritual leaders who ever lived. Who knows how many people like Saul-Paul are in our midst today—fanatical practitioners of other religions; famous actors or singers; political leaders; mega-wealthy, openly godless businessmen; influential intellectuals; radical revolutionaries—who will be dramatically converted in answer to our prayers, becoming unashamed champions of the faith.