A few weeks ago, I was privileged to visit the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics in the U.K. and spend a few moments with Dr. John Lennox, perhaps the greatest apologist of this century. I had one thought on my mind: What would this mathematician-bioethicist-apologist have to say about prayer. Yes, I was nervous. Me—asking this brilliant Oxford professor a question and hoping I would understand the answer!
I took a deep breath and asked, “After all of your scientific and mathematic studies, do you still believe that prayer matters?”
I was delighted to watch his face light up! He came in close and said, “In Genesis, God spoke to them. Prayer is the most intimate act of relationship possible. It matters more than we will ever know because it changes us. And then we have a genuine relationship with the living God, and we change others.” I had never thought about the word them in Genesis, so I went back to explore, and what I found was indeed exciting.
In Genesis 1, we read that God spoke creation into being. But look at this wonderful statement in 1:28 after He created humans: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.’” God said to THEM, Dr. Lennox reminded me. This was an immediate, intimate conversation and the first understanding of prayer as God personally communicated with His beloved creation, made in His image. Wow, that is powerful. God, the Almighty One, spoke to man and blessed them as He began to offer the privilege to join Him in creation by multiplying the humans He created in His image and “fill the earth and subdue it.”
With all the shouting of opinions and frightening news of what might happen next in the world, we very easily forget that our God reigns. He is almighty, omnipotent, and worthy of our trust and praise. He longs to speak to us and to be spoken to.
Prayer matters because we matter to God.
On November 5th, in just a few days, She Loves Out Loud Global will gather women across Six Continents in One Heartbeat to hear outstanding testimonies of courage; to be inspired by women who dare to trust God and face the unknown; to praise the Savior of the World in one heartbeat of worship.
This will be a historic day like none other. And YOU can be there. YOU can invite others to gather together in a home, in a church, anywhere where you can be together in one voice of sisterhood.
Come, let us worship.
Diane Strack and the She Loves Out Loud Global Team
P.S. *Registration is necessary to ensure a secure link.
