Change is the Product of Pursuit

Our associate pastor, Joseph Walter, posted the following on Facebook. “Traditional and surface-level theology say that if you pray a prayer and call yourself a follower, then you can carry on with your life the same as before; HOWEVER,

1) People who encountered and really pursued Jesus CHANGED.

2) Change is the product of pursuit and not the prerequisite.

3) Grace helps us navigate through the change. 

A few days after he posted it, I was still going back to it, especially drawn to his 2nd point about change. During our prayer meetings, we are often told “Don’t stop praying,” which is in line with Joseph’s comment about carrying on the same as before after you’ve prayed. There are some that think if you pray about the same thing over and over, you don’t have enough faith, or you think God must have not heard you. Jesus tells a parable in Luke 18 about a judge who finally gave in to a persistent woman, and verses 7 and 8 say, “And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.” I don’t think God is in heaven rolling His eyes and saying, “Oh, here she goes AGAIN!” Pray without ceasing, day and night…I believe God does not tire of our topics of prayer.

It's hard to have an encounter with Jesus and NOT be changed. When we pursue Jesus through prayer, we are seeking His wisdom and guidance and His protection and provision. When we get answers to our prayers, this brings about change. It grows our faith, deepens our trust and allows us to share with others the benefits of serving God. This is the product of pursuit…the fruit of our labor, so to speak. We do not have to change in order to pray. We do not have to change in order to follow Jesus. Change is NOT a prerequisite of prayer or becoming a believer, instead it is the reward of our active pursuit.  

Maybe change comes in the sense that when we pray consistently for one thing, we find a need within a need; another need is brought to light, and we are led to pray differently. For example, maybe you or a loved one has been out of work and you’ve prayed over and over for a job, but through those prayers, God has asked you to trust Him. Maybe then your prayers change to “God, help me to trust You more. Thank you for providing for my family during this transition.” This is where Joseph’s third point comes in. Pastor Jerry once told me, “Pray for your needs but also the grace to accept the outcome.” We need grace to get us through those dry spells, when we’re either waiting on God to answer our prayers, or He answered our prayer in way we weren’t expecting.  

So don’t stop praying! In my bible, I have written P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens. Pray the same thing you prayed yesterday and then pray it tomorrow too; pray it until you see change in your situation or you yourself have been changed.