This is the last devotion in our series on prayer. One final reminder: these devotions were taken from Stephen’s book “Growing in Prayer”, published by Matthias Media. If you would like to do them again in the future, you can buy a copy of the book from Stephen at the special author’s price. (We are very grateful to Matthias Media for kindly allowing us to use this material in our St Barnabas daily devotions!)Yesterday we asked whether our prayers really change anything, and we saw that the answer is ‘yes’: God really does act powerfully and make things happen in response to the requests of his children.But there is a second way in which prayer changes things. Prayer not only changes the world; it also changes us!Prayer is not for God’s benefit. It is for ours. We do not pray to inform God of the things that have slipped his notice. He knows much better than we do what things we should ask, and what things we would ask if only we had his wisdom! That is why his Spirit improves our requests and makes them better than we know. Paul says:In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Rom 8:26-27)Throughout this series, we have been saying that there are two aspects of prayer. It is not only about depending on God; it is also our most intimate way of delighting in God himself – learning to love him, revere him and enjoy his love which is bigger than we can ever imagine (Eph 3:19).And as we spend time in the presence of our Father – both delighting in him and depending on him – he draws us closer to himself, purifies our thoughts and motives, reminds us of who we are and what is most important, and strengthens us to live for him.For all these reasons, our prayers also fill God with delight – like sweet-smelling incense (Rev 5:8)!We will finish with Paul’s words from Ephesians 3:14-21, which describe God’s purpose for you and for all his people:For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:14-21)Use these verses to fuel your time of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication today.