Prayer is a two-way conversation between you and your Father in Heaven. It’s an opportunity to connect with God and bring your requests before him. You’re able to pray about every and anything, because God cares about it all.
You can be confident approaching God because the Bible promises: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
My Testimony
In 2008, I started reading my Bible daily and talking to God. However, I didn’t know if what I was doing made any difference. I made a humble and vulnerable request to God: “Please reveal to me if you are real, so I know I’m not doing all of this in vain.” In 2009, through a series of different events God honored my request and revealed he was real to me. That was one of the most life changing experiences with God in my journey to understanding prayer.
While waiting for my ex-boyfriend, I became worried and started praying for him. Then the earth slowed down and I heard God’s audible voice speak to me: “If I didn’t make you wait, you wouldn’t have pray. Make sure you pray from now on.” You can watch more of my testimony here.
This experience proved to me that God heard my prayers and wanted me to continue reading the word and sending up holy requests to Heaven. I have some golden nuggets I’d like to share with you to improve your prayer mindset and prayer walk. However, I have still been on a journey to fully understanding the power of prayer.
Why is prayer important?
1. Prayer reduces anxiety
God replaces all our worries and burdens with peace when we take our problems to him in prayer.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
2. Prayer opens our heart to receive and give forgiveness
Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do when we have been badly hurt. Sadly, hurt people hurt people and continue a cycle of pain, sin, and brokenness in the world. The only way to end the cycle is to forgive others and ourselves, but sometimes it’s too painful to do that. Prayer opens our hearts to God’s love and allows us to be vulnerable and strong enough to let go of the pain and trust God for healing.
“Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12
3. Prayer releases the revelation and wisdom of God
God wants to give us the wisdom and understanding to live a righteous life. The release of God’s wisdom is noticed whenever you’ve had an impossible situations and you suddenly think of a solution OR when someone blesses you with advice.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” Colossians 1:9
4. Prayer releases supernatural help to overcome obstacles
God wants to help us solve problems and avoid trouble. In this testimony, a woman was about to sleep with a man for money, but she cried out to God to help her financial needs instead. God sent her what she needed and she was amazed that God protected her from having to sin for finances.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17
5. Prayer makes us humble
Prayer is an acknowledgement that God is in control. By submitting our requests and problems to God, we are reminded that He is the one in charge. This inspires us to trust in God and let go of the need to be powerful and perfect. As we persist in prayer, we are humbled by the realization that we are not self-sufficient and need God’s help.
Luke 18:1-8 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: ‘In a certain town, there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” For some time, he refused. But finally, he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!”‘ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'”
6. Prayer makes us grateful
When we pray and wait on God, it allows us to focus on His goodness. Knowing that God will be good to us and help us promotes a sense of gratitude and surrender to the power of God. As we persist in prayer, we become more aware of the blessings that God has given us, and our hearts overflow with thankfulness.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
7. Prayer is an act of intimacy with the Holy Spirit
We are guided by the Holy Spirit in prayer to intercede for situations that are on God’s heart, but unknown to us.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26
8. Prayers of faith release God’s power
Nothing is impossible with God. Praying with complete faith in God’s power can be so powerful that impossible things can happen around you.
“And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:21-22
Related Article: 5 Secrets for Powerful Prayers That Get Answered!
9. Prayer releases healing to the sick
When we pray God heals the sick according to His will. The sick include mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical ailments.
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:14-16
10. Prayer gives us the strength to keep going
Prayer will give you strength when you are tired of waiting on God and trying to persevere through a trial. It’s imperative that Christian follow 14 steps to stand firm in their faith despite being weary, so they can win the prize and complete God’s mission on earth!
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
11. Prayer helps us avoid physical danger
Prayer can help us avoid car crashes, disasters, and things that could harm us physically. In the Bible, Daniel’s life was threatened and prayer saved him. You too can avoid harm for yourself or family when you ask for God’s protection.
“…urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel 2:18
12. Prayer is a witness to unbelievers
While in Jail the Bible characters Paul and Silas were committed to worshipping, praising, and praying despite the other prisoners that probably thought they were out of their minds. Paul and Silas didn’t care about their thoughts because they knew God was all powerful and nothing to be ashamed of. That type of faith is a witness to others.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25
13. Prayer releases opportunities to minister to unbelievers
We should pray and ask God to give us the perfect opportunity to share the Gospel with unbelievers. With His grace, the conversation can go smoothly and be refreshing to their soul.
“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—” Colossians 4:3
14. Prayer promotes fellowship and unity in the body
Praying is a community activity that brings closeness within the body of Christ. When we are vulnerable enough to share our struggles and needs, it empowers others to rally around us and fosters deep christlike intimacy.
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14
15. Intimate prayer helps us abound in love
Praying for others to grow in maturity and fruits of the spirit can help the body to abound in love. Also, spending time with God makes us become more like him. As we read the word and pray, He teaches how to be like him. It’s like a kid with their father — The kid will copy their father as they do things. So we too copy God as we read or the Holy Spirit deposits Godly wisdom within us.
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
Related Article: 55 Biblical Affirmations to Endure Hardships
16. Prayer promotes peace within a geographical region
We should pray for leaders in high positions to make good decisions that lead to peace and religious freedoms for all. Then, we can all live a peaceful life serving our God.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2
17. Prayer releases mercy to a wicked region
Prayer can be used to request that a geographical region of wicked people will repent and change their ways. Then God would show them mercy rather than wrath.
“O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.
O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” Daniel 9:16-19
18. Persistent prayers change the atmosphere
When we continually pray we can beacon God to change bad weather, remove famine and droughts from starving countries, and solve situations that seem impossible in our lives.
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” James 5:16-18
19. Prayer opens our eyes to Satan’s plan for destruction
God imparts strength, courage, and discernment within us when we simply spend time with God in worship, prayer, and reading the word. He wants us to overcome sin. In addition, He has given me warning dreams about the enemy attacking me, so that I could resist. In a few dreams, I was warned about dating the wrong people, having sex, and potentially being heartbroken by unfaithful me.
Dreams are not the only way that God has protected me. He has sent me wise counsel, friends, and He gave me spiritual discernment + the written word. All of these are weapons for spiritual warfare which supports me in doing the right thing despite confusion caused by the enemies’ fiery darts.
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
20. We destroy the enemies’ plans with prayer
Believers of Jesus Christ have been given the authority to demolish strongholds, unravel the enemies’ plans, and bring the Kingdom of God to earth through prayer. And don’t forget, YOU carry the kingdom of God inside of you and your spiritual fruits destroy the darkness in the people around you.
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can we live without prayer? No, our spirits will become depleted due to lack of connection with the lover of our soul. I find myself more irritable and burden filled when I don’t lay my anxiety, worry, and fears at the cross.
- Can prayer change things? Yes, it can change things in your life especially when you pray from a mature and pure heart. “You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:2–3
- Why is prayer important in Christianity? Prayer in Christianity helps to promote spiritual growth. When we converse with God, He replies to us and that helps us to trust and understand him. Getting to know God intimately is the fruit of prayer.
Remember, “you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
