The Necessity of Prayer

Prayer is not a ceremony, a dissertation, nor is it a privileged practice reserved for the spiritually elite. It is the cry of one's heart to a personal, compassionate, and powerful God in intimate conversation with Him.

One does not pray to alert the Heavenly Father of the conditions and needs of life. Quite obviously, the omniscient Father is aware, has always been aware, and will always be aware of the needs of His children. He knew the needs, conditions, and the desires of each of His children before the foundations of the world. He requires us to pray about our needs in order that:

1. We might realize our lack and helplessness and recognize His proximity, power, and compassion.


2. We learn to break through the curtains of darkness of this present world that work in opposition to our welfare, divesting them of their power, and loosing the benefits of the Father to us.


3. We learn by it to cast aside the blindness and confusion that blinds and binds us and to seek out His will and direction for our lives


4. We participate with Him as we, through prayer, heal the brokenhearted, break the chains of the bound, give sight to the blind, set at liberty the bruised, and preach the gospel to the poor in heart.


5. We may grow in faith, knowledge, and obedience through its practice.


6. We may continuously give honor, praise, and glory to our loving Heavenly Father and extol His benefits.

While prayer is a blessing and privilege given us by the Father, it is also an essentiality, Without it we will never be, have, and do the things He desires for us. Prayerless people cannot win for failing while prayerful people cannot fail to win.

Prayer is hard work. It contests the unbelief of one's heart, the reliability of his reason, and extent and focus of his expectations. It is founded on the Word of God, enabled by the Spirit of God, endorsed by the Son of God, and received by the Father God.

Every day should begin with prayer, every step should be accompanied by prayer, and prayer should be the last murmur of our lips as we close our eyes in slumber each night.

Jeff