Prayer has been one of my favorite activities for a long time. During my undergraduate studies, I served on the prayer team of a student-run monthly worship service, and my passion only grew when I started my internship at ReFrame Ministries. 

From atheism to curiosity

But prayer hadn’t always been a significant part of my life. When I was barely sixteen years old, I was an atheist and found the practice of prayer to be rather strange. I just accepted that some people found it helpful, but for me, it wasn't really something to think about. That same year, some friends talked me into attending the All Ontario Youth Convention, a yearly Christian conference in my province. They said it would be a fun way to spend a long weekend in May, so I went along. 

While there, I met a man named Joe, whom I really enjoyed talking to. Throughout the weekend, I found myself eating meals with him and getting to know him. During the Saturday evening worship session, as I awkwardly stood off to the side, he encouraged me to sit near the cross, where they had set up a quiet place for reflection and prayer. Sitting there, I felt a subtle desire to just ask, “God, are you there?” 

God, are you there? 

Then I felt a hand on my back. Joe had come beside me, kneeling before the cross, praying for me, for my family member who was suffering, and for each and every worry that I had shared with him that weekend. It was at this moment—during this prayer—that something shifted. I opened my heart to Christ. For the first time, I allowed myself to listen to God, and in the loud concert hall, I heard a voice in my heart say, “I am with your sister and with you.” Then, in tears, I started my journey with Jesus Christ. 

This was the first of many times I have seen the powerful and wonderful ways that prayers for others can be transformational. Before this point, my old self lived in constant fear and worry for the future, and anger and pain. But, as I would learn in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, the old self had passed away. My old self, ruled by fear, was instantly overshadowed by the love and hope that Jesus showed me in that one small moment. 

God hears every prayer

Never underestimate the impact of your prayers. God hears every prayer you offer, bringing comfort, healing, and transformation to the lives of those you lift up. Your faithful intercession is a powerful ministry, and through it, God accomplishes incredible work.

I pray that you may find rest in God’s love and kindness and that you feel energized and refreshed as new journeys begin and old journeys end. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact of prayer in everyday life. Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or have walked with God for years, I hope my story encourages you to believe in the power of prayer, the beauty of Christian community, and the quiet ways God moves when we simply ask.

Did you find this article helpful? We’ve put together a short ebook called “How Do I Pray?” which introduces six ways to reinvigorate your prayer life. Download it free right here.