The Purpose of Prayer
The following is a message from Steve Mickel, Foursquare Northwest District Supervisor. It was published in the Foursquare Northwest Updates+News: January (Jan. 15, 2026). He offers insights into our expectations when we pray.
For years I thought prayer was to get God to do what I needed God to do. Growing up in our Pentecostal tradition, I was taught that whatever we pray in the name of Jesus we will receive. I actually do believe that, but it is no longer a 'name it and claim it' type of transactional relationship, but my prayers have become much more transformational.
When my oldest son died almost ten years ago, I began to rethink some of what I learned about prayer and I came to believe what I read from an ancient theologian, Soren Kierkegaard who wrote: “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” ― Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
I still believe in asking God for what we need, but I now know that prayer is primarily to know and be known and to become that for which we long. To fully immerse ourselves in God and be changed by him. In 2026, we will ask God for a lot of different things, but our most pressing need is to become more like Christ. Our world needs us to become more like him, and we need it as much as anyone.
Remember that story in Luke 24:35-49 when Jesus walked through a wall and appeared before His disciples? Jesus still walks through walls and 'suddenly' shows up and speaks 'Peace' into our lives. He calms our fears and restores our faith. He reconnects us to his humanity while pouring out his divinity in ways that fill us with joy and wonder! And if that wasn't enough, he pours out His Spirit upon us and in us and fills us with such power to do what he did.
My wife and I will reach 33 years of marriage this year! Suzanne says we were happily married for 27 of those years - haha. She is not exaggerating. The first six years were marked by me thinking that marriage was about getting what I wanted and needed - that the purpose of marriage was to fulfill my desires. Boy, was I wrong. My relationship with Suzanne has dramatically changed who I am and how I live in this world. Yet how often do we approach God with only what we need and what we want and miss the transformational interaction that occurs when we come to God and sit at his feet? We are changed.
For Soren Kierkegaard, the practice of prayer encouraged his inner transformation, and he would later write that his daily encounters with the eternal became as essential to him as breathing. We can't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, and it is from him and through him and for him are all things (Romans 11:36) - To him be the glory forever!
As you pray in 2026, will you allow it to transform you? Absolutely come before God with your requests - he hears and responds. He still answers prayers! But the greatest prayer that we can pray is “God, make me more like you.”
Love you and I am praying for you. Thank you for praying for me.
Steve
