Evotional.com - Mark Batterson

Albert Einstein said "compound interest" was the greatest mathematical discovery of all time. In the financial world, compound interest is essentially earning interest on interest. Over time, investments earn exponential returns because the principal keeps growing. Let me redeem that concept and juxtpose it with prayer.

I don't know if I can think of a better description of prayer than compound interest. Not only does God answer our prayers, but those answers to prayer start spiritual chain reactions that can stretch for centuries! For example, my grandpa Johnson was the spiritual patriarch of our family. Who led him to Christ? And who led that person to Christ? And who prayed for that person that led my grandpa to Christ? I think someday we'll be amazed as God connects the dots and traces the genealogy of our prayers. When I think of my personal spiritual heritage I think of compound interest. I'm the beneficiary of not just prayers that were directly prayed for me. I'm the indirect beneficiary of all the prayers that were answered in the lives of everyone who has touched my life. So our prayers compound interest. They have a direct and indirect impact on the course of history. We need to take the long view with our prayers. It's not just about what God wants to do right here right now. Our prayers compound interest for eternity. Our prayers earn eternal dividends. That inspires me invest more of my time and more of my energy in prayer! Our prayers never die. They compound interest forever!