3 Reasons Prayer Means Letting God



“Prayer puts God’s work in his hands–and keeps it there.”

– E.M. Bounds

Letting Go

If you are praying to God about a great need you have, then you are basically letting it go and telling God, “Help, I can’t do anything to solve this,” so we must learn to let go of things and let them fall into the hands of God. It’s time we stopped trying to fix what we cannot fix. If we do that, God sees that we’re not really letting go of it. He may allow us to struggle enough until we finally let go of it and turn it over to God in prayer and hand it over to Him.

Letting God

The moment we let go of the heavy load that we’re carrying, God can take it up where it belongs; in His mighty hands. If we pray for God to take the load off of us, He will take that load off of us, and He will keep it off, because we’re too weak to carry it all alone. Jesus’ advice is “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30).

Letting Loose

After we have committed things to prayer and let go of the heavy burdens we were trying to carry by ourselves, we need keep our hands off of it. Once something is committed to prayer, we need to let loose of that problem and allow God to take it off our hands. To let it loose it to trust it to God. This is much like what the psalmist said, as if speaking to himself, “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you” (Psalm 116:7). That’s so easy to say, but so very hard to do.

Conclusion

I really think E.M. Bounds advice is great where he said, “Prayer puts God’s work in his hands–and keeps it there.” That’s just what I needed to hear. What about you? Can you join me in letting go, in letting God, and letting loose of what only God can do take care of?