ByWe hear people of various religious descent making mention of prayer in their frequent statements. But what at all is “prayer” to the Christian? Prayer is an informal or formal way of communicating our thoughts, feelings, petitions and gratitude to God. There is no formula or rule for praying, and all that matters is that we are sincere and humble. Knowing that definition of prayer, why should we pray?
1. To develop a deeper intimacy with God
First, prayer is undoubtedly a primary means through which the child of God can talk to God. Where two people do not communicate with each other, there is no or very little intimacy. In this same way, when the Christian does not talk to God or pray, he loses or has no intimacy with God. Therefore, prayer becomes a necessity to build intimacy with the Lord.
When you tell your troubles to the Father, He will either solve them for you or give you the solution.
Jesus advises us to talk more with the Father in Luke 18:1, where He even told a parable just to make that point.
[1] “… men always ought to pray and not lose heart,”
Luke 18:1 (NKJV)
Furthermore, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 also urges us never to cease talking to the Father. Prayer helps us to draw closer to God.
2. To deal with anxiety and life’s issues
We are human, and sometimes we get anxious when bad things are happening in our lives. Through prayer, we give God access to deal with these problems. When you tell your troubles to the Father, He will either solve them for you or give you the solution.
James 5:13 discloses the solution to our anxieties and issues. It says,
[13] “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”
James 5:13 (NKJV)
God loves to hear us talk to Him about our problems. Our requests for our anxieties and issues to get resolved must be made through prayer, petition and Thanksgiving unto God (see Philippians 4:6).
Through asking and listening to God, we can know His will in every single situation.
3. To seek divine direction
Finally, man has a will. But eventually, it is the will of God that shall come to pass. And those that do not do the will of the Father will not enter the kingdom of God (see Matthew 7:21).
How do we know this will of the Father? Yes, if you have read between the lines, it is through prayer. Through asking and listening to God, we can know His will in every single situation.
From James 4:13-15 God’s Word teaches us to make it a habit to take our daily steps according to the will of God and even proclaim it in our speech. Pray for God to give you divine direction in your decisions, so you’ll not become arrogant to take matters into your hands.
In conclusion, prayer is an essential part of each Christian’s life. It is a way for us to communicate with God, to ask for his help, to express our gratitude, and to grow in our relationship with Him. Therefore pray!
