The Importance of Prayer
What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.
Ä If you look at the history of the church, the history of revivals, of great awakenings, it always was connected to people unifying and praying for the Lord to work in that situation. And that's what we want to happen in our generation.
Prayer Can Succeed Where Other Means Have Failed
Have all your options been exhausted? Prayer can succeed where other means have failed. Prayer should not be a last resort, but our first response. But there are times when sincere prayer must be offered in order to accomplish something.
Prayer and actionDwight L. Moody on a trip across the Atlantic helped the crew and other volunteers put out a fire in the hold of the ship. A friend said to Moody as they stood in the bucket line, “Let’s go up to the other end of the ship and pray.” Moody, the common-sense evangelist, said, “No, sir, we will stand right here and pass buckets and pray hard all the time we are doing so.” Prayer and action go together.
Acts 2:42
"And they devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of break, and to the prayers".
Ä Your church's prayer strategy will likely mirror your overall vision to reach the community for Christ and grow believers into mature followers of Christ.
The importance of prayer
Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. - Soren Kierkegaard
Prayer is aligning ourselves with the purposes of God.
It encourages Christians to acknowledge the goodness of God and how great He is (prayers of adoration).
It encourages Christians to confess and ask for forgiveness.
It helps Christians to remain humble as they thank God for all the things He has given them.
It reminds us of our responsibility to all around us
Reasons to praying every day:
Ä Reduce Stress. Doctors who have studied the physiological effects of prayer have reported that when praying, heart rate and blood pressure decrease, and breathing regulates. ...
Ä Increase Empathy. ...
Ä Build Relationships. ...
Ä Spiritual Exercises. ...
Prayer Strengthens the Bonds Between Believers
Prayer not only strengthens our relationship with God, but when we pray with other believers, prayer also strengthens the bonds between fellow Christians.
Ä Emotional Health.
We were made to function best, emotionally, in a prayerful relationship with God. As C.S. Lewis put it, “God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.”
Ä Billy Graham reminded us about the importance of prayer when he said, “In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is the key that shuts us up under His protection and safeguard.”
Ä Prayer is our communication with God. We can have the assurance that He hears our prayers and knows our heart. According to 1 John 5:15, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us.”
Ä You can have assurance that if you call on Him, He will be with you. Psalm 145:18 states, ” The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
Ä God also wants you to be in communion with Him continually. Throughout your day, find time to just talk to Him and include Him in all that you do. Thank Him for what He has provided and for the people in your life. Colossians 4:2 states, ” Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Ä We are also to pray for one another. James 5:16 says, ” Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Ä Prayer Allows us to Participate in God’s Works
Ä Prayer, for instance, helps others know the love of Jesus.
Ä Prayer can clear human obstacles out of the way in order for God to work.
Prayer gives us Power over Evil
Can physical strength help us overcome obstacles and challenges in the spiritual realm? No, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
But in prayer even the physically weak can become strong in the spiritual realm. As such, we can call upon God to grant us power over evil.
Ä “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” -1 Timothy 4:8
Ä “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” – Matthew 26:4
Prayer Keeps us Humble Before God Humility is a virtue God desires in us (Proverbs 11:2; 22:4; Micah 6:8; Ephesians 4:2; James 4:10). Prayer reminds us that we are not in control, but God is, thus keeping us from pride.
“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 18:4
Prayer Grants us the Privilege of Experiencing God
Through prayer we obtain an experiential basis for our faith. We do not ignore the intellect or reasons for faith, but prayer makes our experience of God real on an emotional level.
Answered Prayer is a Potential Witness
If our prayer is answered, it can serve as a potential witness for those who doubt.
Application and Benefits of Prayer
For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.
