The Importance of Prayer
This week was crazy for me. I had to really sit down and grind out reviews, editing for my latest manuscript, and not to mention adding archives of all my posts and an additional blog to the website. Check that out by clicking here.
As usual, my troubles center on my gaming. I love video gaming but its probably the sole source of all the stress in my life—which is actually a good thing. With all the troubles in our societies, having a video game bring me the most stress is a blessing. Because I have a peace of mind in every other area of my life. And how is that? At age 22, living on a writer’s income, how can I have so much peace?
Because my peace comes from God Almighty. I am not where I want to be at all, I have huge plans for my life and my career. At this point, it doesn’t look like I’m getting anywhere but I have trust in the Lord that things will begin falling into place very soon. And not just for me, I pray that this happens for everyone reading this post.
Prayer. That’s the focus of the article this week.
First of all, let’s deal with what is prayer?
Very bluntly, prayer is communication with God. Whenever you pray, you’re talking to God. As simple as this is, it’s actually a difficult concept for many Christians to grasp. Wait a minute, if I bow my head and start whispering … I’m talking to God?
Well, yes. But you don’t have to do it that way.
So then … how do you pray?
You can pray silently, as if you’re thinking to yourself. You can pray out loud where everyone can hear, you can talk as if you’re having a conversation. Prayer is communication, how do you speak with your earthly father? You just call him up and chat, right? It’s the same thing with God. In fact, He wants to talk to you.
God is our father, what father doesn’t want to hear from their child? You’ve heard the saying, right? No prayer no power, some prayer some power, much prayer much power. When you’re praying to God you’re getting to know Him and in turn drawing closer to the power that will get you through those tough times or keep you sustained in those glory days.
Some scriptures about prayer.
James 5:16 KJV “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Many people interpret this scripture to mean that the prayers of Christians are powerful and that is true in a sense but what we really need to interpret is that the power isn’t in the prayer, its in the God we pray to.
Prayer isn’t a magic formula that we chant and then everything falls in place. Prayer is time dedicated to God Almighty. Its sacrifice and its sentimental communication. Getting to know God is how we get Him to answer our prayers. When someone knocks at your door you’re more likely to answer it if someone you know is waiting on the other side. You might crack it open or look through the blinds to see what’s up if there’s a stranger but the likelihood of you opening the door and letting someone in is greater if you personally know that individual.
The same concept applies to our relationship with God. When we spend time with Him through prayer we are becoming less of a stranger and more of a true Child of the Most High God. We are all God’s children but when we knock at that door, He will likely answer if He knows us. And how do you get to know Him? Through prayer.
A lot of advisors will tell us to pray and ask God for help, that’s very true. God is there for us when we need it but we also need to remember that God isn’t the police. You don’t talk to Him only when you need something. He is there always, and in fact, He’s waiting for your call.
Matthew 6:8 KJV says “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
God already knows what’s on our minds and in our hearts. All you have to do is confess it and He will step in. Or, if you’re not necessarily asking for help, He will happily listen to you. I’ve learned, from hours and hours of spending time in prayer, that God is a great listener. He loves to hear everything I have to say which has taught me that sometimes silence is the best prayer of all.
You shouldn’t come to prayer time with a checklist of what you need and what you want and when you want it by then wonder why God never speaks to you. Do you give Him the chance to actually say anything? Or is this a one-sided conversation? Sometimes prayer just means quiet. Just sitting in the presence of the Lord. Sometimes prayer means singing praises to the Lord, a song is also a way of communicating with God.
The lyrics of an old hymn comes to mind, I’ve sang this song in prayer many many times.
I need thee, yes, I need thee
Every hour, I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior.
And I come to thee.
I don’t know the name of that song and I’m sure there are more lyrics as I’ve only ever heard it sang by my mother and grandmother around the house but it truly speaks to your heart when you’re in that moment and realize God is all you have but He is also all you need.
I hope this has given you all some insight to the importance of prayer. This is just barely scratching the surface, prayer has many deep levels of spirituality but I’m sure we’ll dive into them as this blog grows.
God bless.