30/12/2025
The importance of prayer
1 Thessalonica 5:17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
One great problem that exists in the body of Christ is lack of prayer. Many believers do not have a relationship with God because they do not understand the importance of prayer.
What is prayer not?
Jesus teaches that when we pray we should not use vain repetition the heathen does.
Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Therefore prayers are not a repetition of words merely to fulfill some type of religious obligations to God.
What is prayer?
Prayer is a conversation between our spirit and the Spirit of God. Where we speak to God and He speak to us
Luke 11:2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Why do we need to pray?
To develop our relationship with God
God wants to have a relationship with us. Our priority should be to develop a close and intimate relationship with Him through prayer.
To do the will of God
God accomplishes His will through our prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray saying they should pray for God’s will to be done.
Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
God’s will is to save, deliver, heal and prosper, but without prayer this things will not manifest.
To keep us from falling in temptation
The Word of God teach us that we should watch and play, less we fall into temptation
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Why is it hard to pray?
The flesh is weak
The flesh is our old self or old nature that doesn’t like to pray. It is always weak, tired, sleepy and always has an excuse to avoid prayer. The only way to overcome the flesh is to crucify it and place it under submission of our spirit.
Not seeing prayer answered immediately
Some people stop praying because they don’t see immediate results. The key to seeing prayer answered is: continue praying: Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. This means that we must persevere in prayer until we get a breakthrough. Preserve, believe and God will do it.
We don’t know what else to say
Running out of things to say is one reason some people have a hard time praying. When this happens,,,
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans
In other words when we don’t know how to pray or what to say, let us trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit because speaking in tongues declares the perfect will of God
How can we develop a lifestyle of prayer?
Dedicate daily private time of prayer with God
Dedicate a certain amount of time every day to be alone with God in prayer. Prayer must become a priority in our life.
Ministering to God first
Don’t start the new day by asking God for things. Begin the new day by praising and worshipping Him and then present personal needs
Ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray
When we don’t know what or how to pray Romans 8:26 say that the Holy Spirit will help, guide and intercede on our behalf, according to the heart and mind of God. Effective prayers dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Preserve in prayer until the answer comes.
Often without knowing it give up and stop praying when the answer is just around the corner. So if we feel tired and discouraged we should press on until we receive an answer from God
