Crowder’s latest single can now be heard in rotation on 89.5 KTSY!
“Somebody Prayed” is one of my favorite songs on Crowder’s The Exile album, because it deals with prayer–one of my favorite topics–and it answers a question many followers of Jesus wrestle with at times: Does prayer really change things?
Some Christians ask the question: “If God is all-knowing and all-powerful and knows what’s going to happen anyway, why would we pray?” Others say prayer is about God aligning our hearts with His and not about changing circumstances. Maybe you’ve faced some delayed answers to prayer or outcomes that were different from what you hoped for, and you’re convinced God hears the prayers of other people but question whether your prayers make a difference. Those are all valid questions and feelings.
When we look at Scripture, the answer is an unequivocal yes! Yes, through prayer God does change our hearts, and yes, through prayer God changes circumstances and impacts outcomes. Look at these incredible promises from the Bible on the topic of prayer:
What’s the takeaway? God calls His people to pray. God is pleased when His people pray. God hears and answers our prayers when we ask for things that please Him. And God works in our lives and in the world through the prayers of His people.
In one of my favorite psalms, David writes: “I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:1-2 NLT)
So, don’t be afraid to present your requests for yourself and others to God in prayer! As Crowder sings about in this song, miracles can come from feeble words. Jesus taught us that part of prayer is persistence (Luke 11:1-13). As you seek God, read the Bible, and talk with Him, He’ll change your desire or redirect what you’re asking for if He needs to do that. But, while trusting His ability to guide us, we keep asking God with faith and humility until He responds or directs us to change our perspective and request.
Ask God to guide you in how you pray for His will to be done in the situation you’re praying about, according to the truth of Scripture and the direction of the Holy Spirit. What person or need is calling you to pray for today? Be the somebody that prayed.
“…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” (James 5:16-18 NLT)
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” (1 John 5:14-15 NLT)
Lyrics
Every night there by your bed
You fold your hands and bow your head
Throwing out another prayer in faith
When you’re wondering if He’s hearing you
Look at me, I’m living proof
I’m only right where I am today
Because somebody prayed
So I hit my knees ’cause I’ve seen all heaven move
(Don’t matter if you hit rock bottom)
(My God pick you up when you call Him)
I pray, “Father, please” ’cause I’ve seen what He can do
(Don’t matter if the storm cloud coming)
(My God come through when you call Him)
These hands have no power
But there ain’t an hour He don’t come through
That’s why when mountains move, I say
“Looks like somebody prayed”
For the child of God that’s far from home
The one who thinks they’re too far gone
I’m throwing out another prayer in faith (prayer in faith)
Worn-out altars, tear-stained pews
Still, I won’t give up on you
I believe that anything can change when somebody prays
So I hit my knees ’cause I’ve seen all heaven move
(Don’t matter if you hit rock bottom)
(My God pick you up when you call Him)
I pray, “Father, please” ’cause I’ve seen what He can do
(Don’t matter if the storm cloud coming)
(My God come through when you call Him)
These hands have no power
But there ain’t an hour He don’t come through
That’s why when mountains move, I say
“Looks like somebody prayed”
I’ve seen miracles come from feeble words
I’ve seen hospital rooms turned into cathedrals
I’ve seen freedom come to the prisoner
You can’t tell me that prayer don’t work
So every night there by your bed
When you fold your hands and bow your head
Not a single word you’ve ever said in vain
‘Cause He hears everything
So I hit my knees ’cause I’ve seen all heaven move
(Don’t matter if you hit rock bottom)
(My God pick you up when you call Him)
I pray, “Father, please” ’cause I’ve seen what He can do
(Don’t matter if the storm cloud coming)
(My God come through when you call Him)
These hands have no power
But there ain’t an hour He don’t come through
That’s why when mountains move, I say
“Looks like somebody prayed”
