This post is the 3rd part of 4 posts about prayer. If you missed the first two, they were posted on June 11 and June 16. Today we are continuing to talk about more reasons why we should pray, focusing on the benefits that prayer gives to us.
5. We pray because prayerlessness is sin.
Prayer isn’t just a good thing to do. It is a commandment to follow. We are actually commanded to pray many places in Scripture! Praying is part of obeying God.
I Samuel 12:23- “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (I Samuel 12:23).
Matthew 6:9- “This then is how you should pray…”
James 4:17- “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
6. We pray because prayer deepens our relationship with God and helps us to know Him better.
The story of Hannah is a beautiful example of this truth. Hannah fervently prayed and wept before the Lord, begging Him for a child. It wasn’t until after that time of prayer that God granted her Samuel, but He also did something else for her. He granted her a better understanding of His own character! Her prayer of praise to God, telling how she came to know Him in a deeper way is found in I Samuel 2:1-10. Here is an excerpt from verse 2: “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
Jeremiah 29:12-14- “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Psalm 145:18- “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 17:8- “Keep me as the apple of your eye…”
That last one intrigues me. Despite his track record of heinous sin, David had a special bond with God. Did you realize he had prayed for that bond? I love that we can pray for a special intimacy with God because I always want to know Him better!
7. We pray because prayer changes us and gives us spiritual wisdom.
James 1:5- “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Psalm 16: 7- “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”
Psalm 17:6- “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love…”
Think about that last one. When is the last time you just pondered on the great love of God and reveled in the glory of His Spirit who lives in you? It is a true wonder! David is asking for God to show him the deep wonders of God’s character.
8. We pray because prayer helps us avoid temptation.
Yes, we have been set free from the power of sin, but not from the presence of it. We still battle the flesh and the enemy, winning that battle not by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer connects us to His power and focuses our thoughts on Him.
Matthew 26:41- “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Hebrews 4:16- “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
2 Corinthians 10:4- “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
I hope these tidbits from Scripture fuel your desire to pray more! We will wrap up our discussion on prayer on my post next week. I am enjoying a peaceful vacation in Branson, which has filled my heart with several new blog posts to come. God is so good to refresh our souls!
