“We do not pray to tell God what he does not know, nor to remind him of things he has forgotten. He already cares for the things we pray about… He has simply been waiting for us to care about them with him.” – Philip Yancey
I heard someone recently telling his audience about a situation he saw as unacceptable, and he wanted it changed. He asked those listening to help him “storm the gates of heaven” with prayer. Have you heard that call before? It sounds earnest and seems to promise effectiveness in getting what we want from God.
It made me feel uncomfortable, though. I tried to find Scripture to support the concept of storming heaven’s gates and came up empty. Instead I found all kinds of invitations just to pray, just to be in God’s presence and to share our heart concerns with him.
Then I turned to the author of my favorite book on prayer, Philip Yancey. And I found him saying, “I need God more than anything I might get from God.” Yes! That’s exactly the way I feel about prayer. Not demanding, just asking, sharing, being with the God who cares and acts, and learning to trust his response.
If we belong to Jesus, heaven’s gates are already open to us. We don’t need to “storm” them! We are invited to come boldly and often. God wants to hear our desires as long as we remember that it’s his will, not ours, that ultimately will be done.
It’s not a battle. We and God are on the same side.
Dear Lord, I pray because I want to be with you and to know you, not to change your mind.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” – 1 John 5:14
Walking Together on Holy Ground 
Wonderful truth.
Blessings, Ruth
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Hi Bev!
Your comments
on our prayers to God resonated with me loud and clear.
Thank you 💕
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Thanks for your comment, Nataly. So great to hear from you!
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Good morning Beverly. Great way to start the day in prayer. Thank you.
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Thanks for your comment, Peter. You and your dear wife are some of the best examples of praying people that I know.
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my nephew was dying at age twenty seven he had been in a fire my sister was in a hospital waiting room distraught I went in and prayed in tongues with her I got an interpretation It was I’m not waiting for the gates to open I’m climbing over them I’m running up to you I’m grabbing your face and turning it to me My sister and her son so need you father help us please I must say I prayed fervently with all my being
The Lord didn’t say That’s not in my word You can come through the open gate any time He plunged the room into wondrous love peace and his comforting presence So I just thought that was storming the gates of heaven I wouldn’t say let’s pray and storm the gates of heaven for anything but sometimes in emergency I believe we can
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Margaret – I love your willingness to climb over the gates to reach out to God. I think God loves that, too! We know that we are welcome anytime to God’s throne room, but I do think he pays special attention to prayers that are heartfelt and desperate. He hears not only our words, but our hearts. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
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