Prayer is Essential
As a Christian, prayer is essential. Why is it
essential? God already knows everything. You can’t tell Him anything new. God
already has a will. You can’t change it.
After reading my Bible in search of wisdom about prayer, I saw some of
the reasons for prayer.
Number
one, prayer gives comfort in stressful times. Psalms 55:22 says, “Cast your
burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous
to be moved.” It is not the fact that
you prayed that gives comfort, but the realization on your part that God is listening
that gives comfort. God’s Word tells us that God will keep His Children. When
we pray, we experience the comfort that God is there with us.
Number two, prayer is a means of glorifying
God. When Christians pray we should also praise God. Just look at all the
Psalms that begin by praising God. One in particular is Psalms 48 which begins,
“Great is Jehovah, and exceedingly to be
praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.” In 1
Corinthians 6:20 it says, “For you were bought at a price therefore glorify God
in Your body and your spirit, which are God’s.” So, glorifying God is important
and we can do it through prayer. We should
do it through prayer.
Number three, Prayer increases
our relationship with God. How? Well, any person can see from experience that
not talking to a friend will only decrease the relationship between you.
However, what does God’s Word say about prayer increasing the relationship
Christians have with God? In James 4:8 the Bible is talking about curing
worldliness. It says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse
your hands sinners; and purify your hearts double minded.” Yes, it says that, but
what does that have to do with prayer? In Hebrews 10:19-22 the Bible talks
about being able to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus and to draw near to
God. Jesus gave us the ability to go into the Holiest to draw near to God. Is
that not a wonderful privilege?
With
all of the goodness that comes from prayer, why would a Christian not pray? It
could be something stupid and lame like, “I don’t have time.” What?! I don’t
have time for the Creator of the universe Almighty God?! Or… it could be those lame
excuses are to justify hiding from God. Jonah hid from God. God still saw him,
but Jonah tried to hide. It is dangerous for a Christian not to pray. There
could be sin lurking.
If
there is no good reason not to pray, why not pray? If it benefits a Christian’s
relationship with God, why not pray? If praising God is important, why not pray?
If praying reassures us of God’s presence, why not pray? If prayer is a gift
from God, why not use it? Prayer is essential to a Christian. “Pray without
ceasing.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
