What Difference Does Prayer Make?

The Gospel reminds us that God, our Father, who made all things, didn’t want us to know a moment without Him. So, He sends His son Jesus to walk the earth and live a perfect life, so that through Him we could experience life with Jesus always! 

Prayer is one of the amazing ways to experience closeness with Jesus. 

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus paints a picture of a disciple-maker: someone who follows Jesus and is committed to bringing the Good News to those around them. “Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” 

Jesus is reminding us that prayer is more than just a conversation with Him, but also the opportunity to turn ourselves back to our true north: loving those around us because He loved us first. 

Jesus wants us to remember that when we put our trust in Him, He will provide everything we need. Our daily bread comes from Him.

Jesus also points out that His followers are a forgiving people because He is a forgiving Father. Why would people want to follow a forgiving God if they don’t experience a forgiving people? 

The difference that prayer makes includes many different things. Jesus wants us to remember that it can look like unity between a forgiving people, too.

DIVE DEEPER

Take a moment this week to read over the Lord’s Prayer. Where is God inviting you into a space of forgiveness: His forgiveness of me and us, plus my forgiveness of others?

“Pray like this: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13, NLT)