What is Prayer?
There is nothing more important in life than to learn how to pray.
Prayer is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child’s conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs.
Christianity is, first and foremost, a personal relationship between ordinary men and an extraordinary God. Like all interpersonal relationships, it must have a speaking part! If the relationship is healthy and alive, there is real communication. God is our Father; we are His children. Prayer is where we learn to talk to God, understand him, connect with him, and understand ourselves.
Why Should We Pray?
Why is it important to pray? Prayer gives us untapped power. It unlocks, ignites, heals, transforms, empowers, and calms. Below are some compelling and inspiring reasons why we should pray:
Praying reflects a healthy relationship with God.
Prayer is not a duty; it’s a relationship and an invitation. Every believer should have in his heart a genuine desire to talk to God. When a person prays regularly, there is evidence of such a prayer life in his life and he has desire for more of God. If your relationship with God is good, the desire to talk to Him will be there. Later we will discuss how sin and rebellion destroy our prayer life.
Scripture commands us to pray.
Praying is an act of desire and obedience. We are to pray even when we do not feel like it.
“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1).
“He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him” (Psalm 91:15);
“And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24);
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
Praying is characteristic of a healthy Christian experience.
Jesus was continuously abiding in the Father through prayer. We are to abide in Him and in His Word so that our prayers will be answered (John 15:7). God needs our prayers, because the world needs the answers God gives!
Praying opens the door to supernatural power in our lives.
Our prayers can put the Lord Jesus to work in our world. Praying with power allows God to do work He ordinarily would not do.
It seems God is limited by our prayer life— that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him- John Wesley
When We Pray
Let’s look at some practical guidelines or steps of discipline that can allow God’s Spirit to energize our praying before we pray:
- Confess every known sin.
Isaiah 59:2 tells us that, “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.”
- Submit yourself to God and His will.
Declare Jesus as Lord of all. Just as you begin your prayer time confessing sin, tell God, “Jesus is Lord of my Life; Lord Jesus, I’m Yours.” This verbal confession confirms a commitment in your heart and thrills the heart of God.
- Commit your prayer time to the Holy Spirit.
Verbally plead your helplessness. Invite Him to pray through you. Ask Him to control your devotions
- Wait on the Lord.
“Be still and know that I am God,” Scripture says. Wait quietly or read the Word a loud. God’s Spirit will begin to commune with you. You may get an impression, a thought. Pray it verbally to God. You have every right to believe those thoughts are from God.
