The Importance of Prayer

Sometimes, our prayers seem to go unanswered. This can be especially frustrating when you’ve spent a long time praying about your situation. You begin to feel hopeless. Your faith fades. You start to think that maybe it just isn’t meant to be. Oftentimes, you simply give up.

When I first got really sick, I could feel the power of prayer. I knew people were out there joining together in prayer for my healing, and I was full of hope. There were people praying for me all over the country. Surely God would hear our cries. I was going to be healed.

A year later, I was still sick.  Mentally, I felt good. Physically, I knew things could be worse. But I wasn’t healed. I began to feel that maybe sometimes God doesn’t want people healed.

Still, almost every Sunday, the pastor spoke healing over me. I smiled my amen, still claiming it, but wondering if it was even necessary anymore.

One Sunday night, I thought, “You know, April, people are tired of hearing the pastor always praying over you. You don’t even look sick anymore.”

Then I thought of my brother in law, “And you know, people are tired of him always praying for his dad to get saved.”

And then I thought of the little baby in church, who had been born with troubled eyes. But before I could say people were tired of praying for him, another thought entered my mind.

Use discernment.

Are these thoughts of God? Or are they my own? Or is it the devil trying to get me to stop praying?

So I asked myself, “What does God say?”

Pray without ceasing!

I spent that week studying every verse I could on what God says about prayer.

Pray earnestly. Pray fervently. Be steadfast in prayer. Don’t lose hope. Pray everywhere for everyone always!

And what?

And God will hear you. He will answer you. He will deliver you and save you. And He will heal you!

Pray, and He will give to you. He will do for you and open for you. Pray, and our God will show you great and mighty things you can’t even imagine!

That is what God says! That is why prayer is so very important.

And guess what, Satan knows this! That is why we begin to feel discouraged when our prayers seem to go unanswered. Satan worms his way into our minds to deceive us.

He knows how powerful prayer is, so he will lie to us and tell us it’s a waste of time. He will lie and say nobody cares. He will try to make you believe that you and your prayer aren’t worth it to God, otherwise God would have answered you a long time ago.

Do not fall for these lies! If God said to pray, you pray!

But how do I pray?

Jesus never meant for prayer to be so religious. By giving us the Lord’s prayer, He made it clear that it was a guideline only and not meant to be used as a part of a ritual.

Many new believers approach God as if He is a stern king who might smite them at any second. They’re hesitant and intimidated. But God is such a loving God. He is our Father. He absolutely adores us. He desires time with you and a close relationship.

How do you talk to the people who you are closest to? If you’re about to pour your heart out to your closest friend, do you begin with a monotonous set of lines? Of course not! You simply just pour out your heart. It can be this easy with God.

Honestly, it is as easy as having a conversation with yourself. Don’t get caught up in formalities. Remember, God already knows your heart, more than you do actually. Be as honest and real with Him as you would be with yourself.

Never be intimidated to approach Him. After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves. God already knew where they were, but He still called out for them. Why? Because God wants us to come to Him. God wants us to speak to Him.

But what do I even say?

Anything! Wherever you feel led!

We’re human. We don’t always know what to pray for. But thankfully we have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us who can make intercession for us. We might not know what to pray for, but he does. Ask for Him to intercede. (Romans 8:26-27)

Remember to pray for more than just your own personal requests. In the same way Jesus sacrificed Himself for others, put others before yourself. Pray for all men like the Scripture states. Pray for your leaders. Pray for salvation amongst the nations. Pray for healing and chains to be broken. Pray for favor and increase and blessings. The requests are endless.

And remember this, pray with thanksgiving. Pray as if your prayer has already been answered, walking by faith and not by sight. Overall, pray for God’s will. God will grant us the desires of our hearts if our will lines up with His. Like Jesus, sacrifice your flesh and let God’s will be done.