“Our generation desperately needs to rediscover the difference between praying for and praying through.”- Mark Batterson
Mark Batterson begins Chapter 4 (“Praying Through”) of The Circle Maker with a discussion of a branch of history called counterfactual theory. Pastor Batterson notes that counterfactual theorists ask (1) what if questions and (2) what are key footnotes that might have changed the course of history.
In the grand scheme of God’s story, prayer is the footnote behind every headline. Mark emphasizes that if we focus on the footnotes, God will write the headlines. For this to happen, however, we cannot quit circling. We must pray through the situation, grabbing the horns of the altar and refusing to let go until God answers.
Mark states that praying through:
1. is all about consistency- like the widow’s relentless requests to the judge (Luke 18: 1-5)
2. won’t take no for an answer- you’re always one prayer away from a miracle
3. is all about intensity- it’s not quantitative, it’s qualitative
4. touches the heart of your heavenly Father- it doesn’t just bend God’s ear
Pastor Batterson states God wants to take us to the higher heights and the deeper depths of prayer. But we can’t do the same old thing if we want God to do something new in our life:
“It will involve more sacrifice, but if you are willing to go there, you’ll realize you didn’t sacrifice anything at all. It will involve more risk, but if you’re willing to go there, you’ll realize you didn’t risk anything at all. Make the sacrifice. Take the risk. Draw the circle.”
Today’s question: Describe a time in your life that involved praying through a situation? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Praise through”