WHAT IS PRAYER ?, AND WHY SHOULD WE PRAY
Praise the Lord dear Soldiers today’s topic is what is prayer and why should we pray. Today we learn about it.
WHAT IS PRAYER
Prayer is giving our attention to God in a two-way spiritual relationship where we talk to God and also listen to Him. Prayer is like a child’s conversation with their father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things they need, or to ask for advice or guidance.
Spending time with God in prayer is one of the most exciting privileges we have as believers. Yet so many people are still confused about what prayer is, and wonder why they should do it.Prayer is communication with God, Prayer is Communion with our Creator
How can we communicate with God ?? How can we communion with our Creator??
. We do this by praising Him, woshiping Him, confessing our sin before Him, thanking Him and asking Him for our needs and desires.
-When we pray, we engage in loving fellowship with the Maker of heaven and earth. He has graciously invited us into a close covenant relationship with Him through the person and work of Christ.
WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?
1)PRAYER IS NOT OPTIONAL FOR GOD’S ’s PEOPLE
Prayer is frequently commanded or referred to in Scripture (Exodus 22:23, 27; 1 Kings 3:5; Isaiah 55:6; Joel 2:32;)
Isaiah 55:6:
Seek the Lord while He may be found,Call upon Him while He is near.
In all these verses we see that God is telling his people to pray, if you pray you will get deliverance, if you pray I will hear, this is what God is saying. So God said to pray so we have to pray.
2)GOD WANTS US TO PRAY
God wants us to pray every day, every moment, and in every situation. God’s Word says…. (1Th: 5:17-18, Ph: 4:6, Luke :18;1)
1Thes: 5: 17-18
Pray continually, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
God wants us to pray without ceasing and without grumbling.
3)JESUS PRIORITIZED PRAYER
Jesus made communion with God the first priority in His life. His approach to prayer was intentional and disciplined. He often rose early and went to a quiet place where He could focus on His Father (Mark 1:35-38, Matt: 14:23, 26:36, Luke 5:16)
.If Lord Jesus, despite being the Son of God, can give more priority to prayer then we should think how much priority should we give.
4) PRAYER STRENGTHENS US AGAINST TEMPTATION
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciples to, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matt 26:41). Even so, the disciples fell asleep. Yes, prayer can be hard work; it can even be a struggle. But it is also a sure way to withstand temptation.
Matt: 26:41
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
When we go through temptations we can find strength through prayer, we can find deliverance through prayer.
5)PRAYER IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE
Prayer has “great power as it is working” (James 5:16,) Christ, who dwells in our hearts through faith (Eph 6:18), empowers us to live for Him as we commune with Him. We are revived from the inside out as we become increasingly confident in the effective outworking of our relationship with God.
6)PRAYER HELPS US RECEIVE AND GIVE FORGIVENESS
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Luke 11:4). When we humbly confess our failings before the Lord, He promises to forgive and cleanse us completely. Receiving such astounding, undeserved forgiveness frees us to do the same for others.
Heavenly Father we are grateful for today’s manna. Please help us to always remain in prayer. Thank you Lord for listening our prayer, in the name of Jesus we pray …Amen and Amen
Sol. Laxmi