Can Prayer Change Reality?

There is a joke about an atheist who decided to open a nightclub directly across from a Church building.  The Believers were in an uproar.
They held nightly, outdoor prayer sessions begging God not to allow the club to open.

The man scoffed and went right ahead with his plans.  However, in a shocking turn of events, two weeks before the grand opening, lightning struck the club, and it burned to the ground.

The club owner sued the little group of Believers on the grounds that their prayers destroyed his club.  The group of Believers, on the other hand, denied responsibility, saying there was no direct connection between their prayers and the lightning striking the club.   

The judge reviewed the case and remarked,” Wow! Seems we have a nightclub owner who believes in the power of prayer and an entire congregation that doesn’t.”

Does prayer really make a difference?  Or is it pragmatic, diplomatic, and human efforts that determine the course of reality?  Is it the businessman’s acumen and good sense that makes him wealthy, or his prayer and God’s subsequent blessing?       
                      
                                               Is it Both?                    

 I love the story of Esther.  She was a survivor.  She teaches us that while practical actions are necessary to succeed in any endeavor, spiritual efforts have the real impact in awarding  God’s blessings.

 Haman and his people who were Agagites, have a long history of hating the Jews.  They were bent on exterminating the Mordechai and all his people.  Both peoples were taken into captivity by the Persians. Although Haman had influence with the king, Esther became his queen. Haman used his influence with king to try to eliminate all Jews in Persia.

Esther knew she had to act.  While she did indeed plan on trying the diplomatic route, she had other thoughts on her agenda as well.  She asked Mordechai, her adopted father and all Jews, to arrange a public fast for three days.  She felt that the dire situation called for fasting and imploring God to save His people.

She included herself and those around her also to do the same.   I’m sure the beautiful Esther must have looked worn and haggard after fasting and praying for three days. 

If her plan was to persuade her husband, King Ahasuerus, to save her nation, wouldn’t it be a better plan to look her best?  Rather than focus on repentance and fasting, shouldn’t she have taken a more pragmatic and polished approach?  Shouldn’t she have tried her best to find favor in the king’s eyes?  Of course, we know that she did have a plan.  One that would save her people.

But Esther was aware of the truth. She knew that the cause of the decree against the Jews was spiritual in nature.   While it was necessary to take practical action, she also knew that it was important for Divine intervention to prevent Haman from carrying out his plan of extermination.   

Esther intended to diplomatically convince the king to save the Jews, but it was her heartfelt prayer that was the catalyst for her success.  She followed up with a plan and the Jewish people were saved

For Us:  Prayer, followed by a plan of action.   Can’t go wrong with that!