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| The BIBLE |
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER
Why should a Christian pray? How often should I pray?
These questions and many more are
constantly heard from people. Some people wonder if there is really any need to pray. This post is to emphasize the importance of praying to a Believer and is listed in no particular order.
The reasons a Christian believer must pray
A channel of communication
Prayer is a two-way channel by which God and man communicate with each other. Communication is very vital for any relationship that is to pass the test of time. Through prayers Christians relate their minds, feelings, emotions, desires and inadequacies, while God communicates answers, assurance and His supremacy to the believers.
Experience the love of God
God is love and through prayers you experience and understand more the love of Jesus. When you pray acceptably you enter into God’s presence where you will be enveloped by God’s love. This assures you of God’s protection over you, insecurity disappears and you receive boldness to face life knowing that Jesus loves you and will always be by your side. David, a man of praise and prayer, experienced this that he wondered in Psalm 8:4, what man is that God is so mindful of him. Also Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-19 that the Ephesians should experience this love of Jesus.
Spiritual growth
Through prayers, we build up our faith in God and His son Jesus Christ. This is why Jude, in Jude 20, encouraged Christians to pray in the Spirit. Jesus laid an example for Christian believers by praying so often that His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Prayer strengthens the believer, builds up courage in him and his confidence in the ability of God to do the impossible.
Channel of overcoming forces of darkness.
Christians overcome the devil through prayers. The devil has been defeated by the death and
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ but we enforce it through prayers in the name of Jesus. As
it is said, “a prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian”. Paul understanding the power of prayer against the attacks of the devil included it in the weapons of our warfare in Ephesians 6:18. When you pray, you enforce your authority in Christ against all the attacks of the enemy.
Ask and receive
Through prayer we ask and receive our desires from God. Jesus said in Mathew 7:7-8 that we
should ask if we want to receive from God. And James, in James 4:2, said that we do not have
because we have not asked. Therefore, whatsoever you desire from God you must ask in prayer first before you can receive it.
Invitation to God to act
This is the primary reason why we must pray as Christian believers. God cannot do anything on earth unless somebody down here asks Him. God gave dominion over all the work of His hands to Adam, (Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 8:6) which he sold out to Satan. Now the devil has dominion and legal right in this world and is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). God cannot legally and justly move in and take away that dominion from the devil because the lease was legally given to him by Adam. So if you want to see a change concerning any issue, you must pray before God can intervene. Praying is one thing many Christian believers struggle with even though they know they ought to pray. Sometimes, people sleep off while praying. But prayer is so important that believers need to receive grace from God to prayer. And not just once
in awhile prayer but to pray without ceasing.
constantly heard from people. Some people wonder if there is really any need to pray. This post is to emphasize the importance of praying to a Believer and is listed in no particular order.
The reasons a Christian believer must pray
A channel of communication
Prayer is a two-way channel by which God and man communicate with each other. Communication is very vital for any relationship that is to pass the test of time. Through prayers Christians relate their minds, feelings, emotions, desires and inadequacies, while God communicates answers, assurance and His supremacy to the believers.
Experience the love of God
God is love and through prayers you experience and understand more the love of Jesus. When you pray acceptably you enter into God’s presence where you will be enveloped by God’s love. This assures you of God’s protection over you, insecurity disappears and you receive boldness to face life knowing that Jesus loves you and will always be by your side. David, a man of praise and prayer, experienced this that he wondered in Psalm 8:4, what man is that God is so mindful of him. Also Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-19 that the Ephesians should experience this love of Jesus.
Spiritual growth
Through prayers, we build up our faith in God and His son Jesus Christ. This is why Jude, in Jude 20, encouraged Christians to pray in the Spirit. Jesus laid an example for Christian believers by praying so often that His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Prayer strengthens the believer, builds up courage in him and his confidence in the ability of God to do the impossible.
Channel of overcoming forces of darkness.
Christians overcome the devil through prayers. The devil has been defeated by the death and
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ but we enforce it through prayers in the name of Jesus. As
it is said, “a prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian”. Paul understanding the power of prayer against the attacks of the devil included it in the weapons of our warfare in Ephesians 6:18. When you pray, you enforce your authority in Christ against all the attacks of the enemy.
Ask and receive
Through prayer we ask and receive our desires from God. Jesus said in Mathew 7:7-8 that we
should ask if we want to receive from God. And James, in James 4:2, said that we do not have
because we have not asked. Therefore, whatsoever you desire from God you must ask in prayer first before you can receive it.
Invitation to God to act
This is the primary reason why we must pray as Christian believers. God cannot do anything on earth unless somebody down here asks Him. God gave dominion over all the work of His hands to Adam, (Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 8:6) which he sold out to Satan. Now the devil has dominion and legal right in this world and is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). God cannot legally and justly move in and take away that dominion from the devil because the lease was legally given to him by Adam. So if you want to see a change concerning any issue, you must pray before God can intervene. Praying is one thing many Christian believers struggle with even though they know they ought to pray. Sometimes, people sleep off while praying. But prayer is so important that believers need to receive grace from God to prayer. And not just once
in awhile prayer but to pray without ceasing.
Remember the devil is running to and fro looking for whom to devour but we are to resist him steadfastly and one way is through prayers. So get praying today without ceasing.
Hey, do you have any other reason why Christians
should pray?
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| Evangelist John Bosco |
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