Celebrating National Day of Prayer - 3rd Hour

Praying because we’re “supposed to” isn’t always enough to motivate us, but the truth is that prayer is much more than a rule. Prayer is important because it makes us more like Jesus and because it reveals to us the heart and mind of God. God invites into a relationship with Him, not to just get stuff from him. He invites us into His purposes and power – power to defeat the enemy, save, restore, strengthen, raise up, heal, glorify God, accomplish the impossible, bless, impart wisdom, secure peace, keep us from sinning, and reveal God’s will. When we see prayer this way, it becomes less of punching the clock and donkeywork and more joyful anticipation of how our Father will move the world for his glory and our good. Prayer is not only where Jesus ran to for peace and comfort in times of intense pain and suffering. It was also His place of joy in triumphs, His place of perspective and vision in uncertainty, and sometimes just His place to be still and know. It was all of these places. And it still is. Keep in mind that there are four purposes of prayer are: (1) adoration, (2) thanksgiving, (3) repentance, and (4) petition. Our need for God in the supernatural order is even greater. God is the limitless source of all good, and He longs to share this good with others. He has even assured us that our goal is to reign with Him in Heaven and to share His own happiness there forever. We should appeal to God in prayer frequently. Clearly prayer was important to Jesus—it was his lifeline and his connection to the Heavenly Father. It equipped him for the battles he was about to face. It kept alive the intimate relationship that sustained him. And it revealed to him God’s desires and direction. If the goal of a Christian is to become more like Jesus, that process should include imitating his actions and living out his words. As we pray, we will become more like Jesus, and we will find that prayer changes us.

Prayer is not a duty, but an invitation from our Father. Prayer is an invitation into fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, expressed in adoration, thanksgiving and intercession, through which we draw near to God and learn more of his will for our lives. He invites us into purpose and power through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we understand the reasons why we should pray, we will realize all over again what God is inviting us into something precious and powerful – an ever-deepening relationship with him.

Prayer is based on God’s love for us. Through his grace, he gives us things which they do not deserve, while through his mercy he shields us from those things which we do deserve. Therefore, prayer is primarily a relationship with our heavenly Father. Prayer is deliberate and intentional communication that nurtures this relationship with the Father. It is our way of connecting daily with the living God and hearing him tell us who he is and who we are. To neglect this privilege is to ignore God himself and miss out on a promised joy to every follower of Jesus. To lean into this relationship is just one way we let God how much we love him. When we love someone, we will make time for them. So, what are some reasons why we should pray? So, an invitation from and relationship with our Heavenly Father are foundational to understanding why we should pray. But, there are a few more reasons why followers of Jesus should pray. “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”Philippians 4:6-8 (NKJV).

God is calling us to humble ourselves and genuinely seek his face(in prayer) with a steadfast heart, and turn away from their evil ways, that he will forgive them and hear their prayer and all. In our individual lives, families, communities, and perhaps even as a nation, Christians need to make a call to prayer. Standing up and engaging in active prayer is a clarion call to prayer. The Lord will hear us and go before us to make that path straight if we can all rise together, go to our prayer rooms, or gather in our churches, and collectively with one voice make pronouncements. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” 1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NKJV).

There are 10 ways prayer can benefit us in our daily lives:

1. Prayer can help us focus on what is important.

2. Prayer can help us to stay hopeful in dark times.

3. Prayer can help us feel connected to God on a deeper level.

4. Prayer can help us deal with difficult emotions and situations.

5. Prayer can help us find comfort and peace.

6. Prayer can help us develop a stronger relationship with God.

7. Prayer can help us become more compassionate people.

8. Prayer can give us strength during difficult times.

9. Prayer can help keep our minds and thoughts clear.

10. Prayer is a way of communicating with Jesus and asking for guidance and support in our lives.

Prayer is important because it makes us more like Jesus and because it reveals to us the heart and mind of God. When we look at the spiritual powerhouses of the past, we know that prayer was immensely important to them. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” 1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV).