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The Importance of Prayer

And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint – Luke 18:1.

Prayer to a Christian is as important as water to a fish; without prayer, we would die spiritually. One will not come into spiritual maturity without prayer, nor will they experience being in the presence of God. Being in the presence of God brings about a change in our behavior and character.

Jesus instructed His disciples then and now to pray; without prayer, we will be disconnected from God. We would not be sensitive to His Spirit or His voice. Sadly, to say many professing Christians have not experienced His presence or are aware He will talk to His people in many forms and ways. As Christians, we must know when God is speaking.

When we were children, we knew the voice of our parents. It did not matter how many children were on the playground; we heard our parents when they called us. We didn’t get their voice mixed up with some else parent.

Well, it’s the same way with God. It does not matter how many are praying or how many children He has, He knows His child’s voice, and He does not get their voices mixed up with His other children. He knows each of the children by name.

Many want recognition for what they have accomplished in this life but don’t think about whether or not God knows them. In order for God to get to know us by name, we must communicate with Him on a consistent basis.

Relationships are built on communication, whether with our spouse, children, friends, or family. Praying is communicating with God; when our communication is persistent, we build a relationship with God. We get to know a portion of Him, but we will never know Him to the fullest until we meet Him in heaven.

While we’re living on earth, God wants us to communicate with Him; this communication does not always mean we’re asking Him for something. Think about yourself; if you have children, you don’t want them to only interact with you when they ask you for something. You want to talk about different things and subjects.

Praying is building a relationship with God, enabling you to talk to Him about everything, the likes, and dislikes. What concerns you, or just telling Him about your day. God is our Father, and He wants us to talk to Him on a regular basis, not just when things are happening that we don’t like.

Spiritual growth comes through prayer, fasting, reading, and studying God’s Word. Prayer builds our relationship with God and makes God move on our behalf or on the behalf of others. God moves through prayer, not wishful thinking. Every time there was a move of God, it was done through someone’s prayer. The Israelites were delivered from bondage because of the cry of His people (And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows – Exodus 3:7). The people were praying to God, they were not singing “I’m in Egypt as a prison, and I’m glad about it.” No, they were praying for deliverance, and God moved on their behalf.

With everything happening in the world today, walk-a-thons and protesting will not resolve the problem, but prayer will. God has never instructed His people to do walk-a-thons and protests. He said for them to pray (If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land – 2nd Chronicles 7:14).

Prayer is much needed for the world and the Christian not to be tempted by the world’s sins. Jesus instructed His disciples to watch and pray (Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak – Matthew 26:41. All temptations are not sexual. We can be tempted not to pray or fast. Tempted by talking too much when we should be quiet, easily angered. Seeking what the world has to offer rather than seeking God and His will. Temptation comes in many forms.

Prayer is the Christian weapon; it’s deadlier than the armed forces; it moves the hand of God and the host of heaven. God will send His angels to battle and deliver His people from whatever forces comes against them, whether spiritual or natural. God does not move on everyone’s prayer, only the prayer of His people. Those that reject the Word of God, which is the law of God, their prayer is an abomination to God (He that turneth his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination – Proverbs 28:9). God only hears the prayers and cries of the righteous (The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer – Psalm 6:9).

If we want to see a change in the world, a change in our circumstances, we must pray and when we pray, believe that our prayers will be answered (And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us – 1st John 5:14). To know God’s will is to know His Word. Christians pray according to His Word to receive answered prayers.

Prayer empowers us to live a godly lifestyle; it empowers Christians to have authority over Satan and his co-host. It empowers us to have favor with God; prayer will change us as it changes the circumstances.

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