Why is prayer so important? Do you build a relationship with someone and never speak to them? Prayer is just that, building a relationship with God. God says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. (ESV) What does without ceasing mean? It means unceasingly, without remission, uninterruptedly (not stopped, or blocked). This means we want to pray (talk to God) all day, 24/7.
If you had a person you wanted to build a relationship with, you would call them, spend time with them, go out with them, and really involve them in your life. Prayer is no different. Sometimes, we look at prayer and think it must be a long conversation with God. It doesn’t have to be. If we are praying without ceasing, we are always in prayer with God. We talk to him all day, building a deeper relationship.
How Do We Pray?
If we want to dive DEEP into prayer and build that relationship with God, we can do a few things.
- Pray the scriptures.
- Run to him with prayer.
- All things pray. All day, pray and talk to him like your friend and helper because he is.
- Yearn for prayer; this brings you closer to God.
Pray the Scriptures
When you pray the Scriptures, you pray God’s word, truth, and promises back to him. We see this done throughout the Bible, as men like Nehemiah and Jonah prayed Scripture in their times of trouble. While Christ was on the cross, he prayed Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (ESV)
Praying Scriptures helps us meditate on his word, and meditation on his word gives us time to think about the Scriptures. Praying the Scripture also gives us a better understanding of his word, and praying the Scriptures keeps our minds on God. As it states in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (NIV)
You should pray Scripture because it glorifies God the Father. Jesus told the disciples in John 15:7-8 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. Abide in me, and I in you means “Obey my words, and let my words remain in you.” (ESV)
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth ESV. Praying Scriptures will help us pray truth over our problems and provide us ample trustworthy proclamations about God to adore and worship in our prayers.
Throughout Scripture, we see promises about who God is, what is to come, and the blessings of living for him rather than indulging the flesh. We should pray for these promises to manifest in our lives, declare them in prayer, and ask for them to come to fruition.
Scripture teaches us how to pray
We find many examples of how to pray to God. Jesus taught his followers how to pray, the Psalms are full of prayers, and we find other prayers throughout God’s word, such as King Jehoshaphat’s prayer when he learned the enemy was marching toward him for battle.
Scripture is God inspired
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness BSB. The Bible is inspired by God and therefore full of truth and wisdom that we can meditate on and pray over our hearts and circumstances. It is trustworthy and can lead us in the right way as we seek God’s will and his help through prayer.
Run to Him with Prayer
The Bible says do not fear 365 times. Why do you think that is? God wants you to give him all your worries and problems. If you are praying without ceasing, you are already in a habit of running to him in prayer. When problems or worries arise, and you are already “praying without ceasing”. Then you won’t carry that burden of worry.
Another great reason to run to him with prayer is because he knows the beginning to the end. Talking to him, he can give you wisdom and guidance on how to handle every situation. God is bigger than any problem or concern you have. He knows every hair on your head; Luke 12:7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God then a whole flock of sparrows. NLT
To me this scripture means we are so important he knows more about us than we know of ourselves. He says we are more important than a whole flock of sparrows, so why shouldn’t we be in constant prayer (talking) with him and running to him with prayer. Giving him your worries and concerns since he IS all knowing and see’s the big picture and we don’t.
All Things Pray
Just as it was mentioned before, pray about all things. When I say all things, that is everything. As you start your day say Hello/Good Morning to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Listen for their response. This helps train your ear to their voice. Pray before reading the Bible, pray and ask what you should wear, pray about what you should eat, you get the picture. This is constant prayer and then you are in the habit of praying without ceasing.
Praying and asking about each and everything you do not only helps you learn God’s voice but, helps build obedience to God. Praying about all things helps build your untrained ear and train it to God’s voice.
When you pray about all things, you are talking to God all day. Praying is talking to him like your friend and helper because this is exactly what he is. Praying about all things also helps you get to know God more. For example, people think asking God, what should I wear today is silly. I don’t because someone may come up to you and say, “I like your shirt.” Sounds simple, but this may give you an opportunity to witness to or pray with someone. You never know why God wants you to do certain things.
Yearn for Prayer
When you are in the habit of praying the scriptures, running to him with prayer, praying about all things you will start yearning for prayer and that closeness with God. When you yearn for God, this only brings you closer to him. Just as when you make a habit of reading the Bible you start to yearn for more and more of his word. Prayer is the same thing. Especially when you really take the time to wait and listen for his responses during prayer.
Get a journal and write out your prayer to start if you need to. Listen for his response to your prayers. When you are building a relationship with a friend or loved one you always give them time to talk, God wants this too. Never be in a rush when praying. Yes, sometimes we might say a short prayer before rushing away, but overall, we need to give God time to respond in all situations. The more we pray and spend time with God the more we will yearn for him. Just remember Pray:
P-pray the scriptures.
R-run to him with prayer.
A-all things pray. All day pray and talk to him like your friend and helper because he is.
Y-yearn for prayer, this brings you closer to God.
Tina McChristian
My true passion is pleasing Jesus Christ and getting closer to him daily. I try to start each day by reading his word and trying to grow in him, my goal is to be just like Jesus. I want to be an example to my daughter, Alyssa, so she grows up to be a strong follower of God. I currently serve on the prayer team and worship team at Common Ground Church. I have been singing most of my life while singing, I hope to please God and give him the Glory.