The Importance of Prayer

The Scriptures, the Bible, God's Word helps us to know Christ and to walk with Him daily. That is a good description of living the Spirit-filled life. But to be successful, to continue to live the righteous life in Christ on a regular basis, everything must be engulfed in prayer. A good prayer life is the key.

Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." You can approach God boldly in prayer because He wants you to bring your needs to Him. He answers your prayers in "mercy" and He brings "grace to help" in your "time of need." As Paul said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7).

Paul told Timothy, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men" (1 Tim. 2:1). And again, Paul said, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1  Thess. 5:16-18).

The bottom line is this: prayer is so important that you are to be in an attitude of prayer every waking moment of every day. That doesn't mean you constantly have your hands folded, head bowed, and eyes closed in prayer, but that you are always mindful of the power of prayer and you are always ready to shoot up that arrow of prayer to God whenever the need arises. And there is power in prayer.

James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." Here we are encouraged to fellowship together as believers, holding each other accountable and praying for one another. When we are faithful in prayer and passionate for what or whom we are praying for, God will answer. In fact, our "effective, fervent prayer… avails much" or "has great power as it is working" (ESV).

Jesus understood the importance and power of prayer. That is why He set aside time every day to get alone with the Father and pray. Luke 5:16 says, "So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." Mark 1:35 also says, "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." He did what I believe He wants us to do: He set aside time every day to consider the Word and to pray.

All of this taken together describes a life that is holy or righteous. It is the Spirit-filled life. It is a life that abides in Christ. Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4). The key to the Christian life is to learn to abide in Christ. Remember how we described the Christian as being "in Christ"? Abiding in Christ is just that: remaining in Him and getting to know Him better each day. Victorious Christian living comes from abiding in Christ day by day; living in Him and letting Him live through you. Amen.