The Importance of Prayer

To begin with, what is prayer? Simply put, prayer is talking to God. It is a tremendous privilege afforded to the righteous (1 Peter 3:12). To define prayer in another way, it is the means given to God’s children to communicate their needs, desires, sorrows, joys, and problems at anytime, anywhere to their heavenly Father who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Here we have presented a very good reason to view prayer as extremely important. What an absolutely amazing honor has been bestowed upon us by our Divine Creator!

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:3-5). Like David, when we consider God’s greatness and might and our own littleness and weaknesses, we too cannot help but stand in utter awe at the exalted relationship that our glorious God has bestowed upon us. The thought that a Being as holy and awesome as Jehovah would be willing, not only to listen to what I have to say, but to lovingly and graciously respond is mind-boggling.

A second key reason to view prayer as vitally important to the Christian is the abundance of commands in the Bible for the saint to pray. Clearly, God views prayer as crucial to a stable relationship with Him, and thus He strongly desires that you and I recognize the same truth. It is so essential to our every day lives, that we are commanded to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17)!

The Benefits of Prayer
Just take a moment to contemplate all the wonderful benefits connected to prayer which should help us to see its enduring importance. Let’s consider a few of them together.

• I am able to speak with Someone who knows me inside and out; Someone who understands me completely; therefore, Someone who truly knows my every need and desire (1 Chronicles 28:9), even before I utter one word to Him.

• The saint keeps things in the proper perspective, that man is entirely dependent upon God to provide life’s necessities (Matthew 6:9-11, 25-33; Acts 17:24-25).

• God will give us the wisdom we so desperately need in this life when we request it in faith (James 1:5-6).

• When we are filled with anxiety, prayer will produce within us “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” that “will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

• We have such a caring God that prayer allows us to cast all of our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

• “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). What an incredible benefit!

• Christians have a merciful, faithful, and sympathizing High Priest (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16) who “always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

• The prayers that I offer to God can make a significant difference in my life and the lives of others (Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 5:13-18).

Is Prayer Important to You?
Well, how often do you pray? How much time do you spend in prayer? Do you enjoy talking to God? Do you set time aside in your busy schedule to pray? Answer these questions and you will soon discover whether or not prayer is important to you. I hope we realize just how important it is to “continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).

-Jesse Flowers