Prayer: Nothing More Important
It feels like an understatement to say that prayer is an important aspect in our Christian lives. That’s like saying that communication is important in marriage; good communication is the foundation in which all other aspects of a marriage thrive. The same goes for prayer in our relationship with God. Just like communication in marriage, it takes discipline and a sense of surrender to pray. We live busy and distracted lives in a success-driven world that is bursting with screens and noise which beg for our attention. A life with quiet, intentional, dedicated time to prayer is something our brains seem less and less capable of as time goes on. But without private prayer in our everyday lives, our relationship with God risks growing complacent, becoming simply an emotional high or a devotion to empty knowledge and actions. Prayer can seem like hard work, but a prayer life that is persistent allows us to see God clearly, see reality clearly, and see ourselves clearly. Prayer is where we are transformed and where heart reorientation takes place. Once we experience intimacy with God through prayer, it also can be a deep place of delight. Prayer is a place He invites us into and wants us to experience in the fullness of His presence here on earth.
Prayer is the realm in which our whole relationship with God exists and grows and deepens. When Jesus died and the veil was torn in two (Matthew 27:51), our bodies became the new temple, the new place we meet with God. The Holy Spirit dwells inside us and makes communication with God possible (Romans 8:26). Through communication with God, we actively live out our dependence on Him. A life full of prayer is a life that says, “You are worthy of my time and praise, I need you; I cannot do this alone.” I believe there are five main reasons that we pray: praise, surrender, repentance, intimacy, and supplication, all of which are essential aspects of our relationship with God.
Praise
Psalm 145:3 says “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, the first thing He said was, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9). The first line is a declaration of praise. When we begin our prayers praising God for who He is, we set the perspective and tone for the rest of our prayer. There is no formula to prayer, but in my own prayer life, it’s helped me immediately see my own circumstances as a little smaller than before I started praying. God is eternal in His love and infinite in His knowledge, and He has created all things and holds our lives in His hands. He deeply cares for us. When my prayers begin honoring this and acknowledging the character and Lordship of God, I am ushered into a place of trust, which impacts the rest of my prayer. He is worthy of our adoration and that in itself is reason enough to pray. It’s important to praise through our prayer because it gives us perspective and gives God what He deserves.
Surrender
When we proclaim Jesus as Lord, this is a submission to live by the Spirit and not our flesh
(Galatians 5:25). Surrender is not only a one-time proclamation but a constant practice we must apply in our prayer life. It takes a daily, hourly, even moment-by-moment surrendering to the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray without ceasing.” When prayer is constant through the day, it allows us to lean into the power of God instead of trying to lean on our own power to fight temptation. Through prayer we can surrender our will and take on His. We see Jesus praying a heart wrenching prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was about to go to the cross in Matthew 26:38-39, “‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ And going up a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’” Jesus was about to die a brutal death on the cross, but He still prayed for God’s will to be done. As Christians we live set apart (1 Peter 2:9). We are called to surrender our will to God in both the little daily things (the way we talk, the things we watch, the activities we take part in) and big life things (how we treat people, how we view ourselves, and how we spend our days). We are completely and fully dependent on God and the more we actually live like this rather than trying to muster up our own power, the more free we will become in every aspect of life. Prayer is the first way to fully embrace God’s presence, all through the day.
Repentance
Repentance is an important action when coming to know Jesus. This is where we confess that we are sinners and that Jesus died in our place and paid the price for our sins. We are always going to struggle with sin on this side of Heaven, but 1 John 1:9 says that He is faithful to forgive us if we confess. Prayer is the channel in which we ask for forgiveness daily, if not multiple times a day. Jesus died for our sins and our shame; the more time we spend in prayer, the more aware we are of the depths of our sin and the endless forgiveness and love of God. Sin shouldn’t be taken lightly, but it also doesn’t need to be a source of sulking guilt. Repentance in prayer can be both a mourning of the things that put Jesus on the cross, and a deep thankfulness for Jesus’ forgiveness. Repentance is a lot bigger than just acknowledging our sin – it takes action to fight against our flesh – but it is an important aspect of prayer because recognizing our sin is the first step. (See the linked resource on repentance from the Re:generation Recovery ministry for more details.) We cannot repent without prayer, and repentance is a huge part of our lives as followers of Jesus.
Intimacy
Prayer is not a religious sacrament that adds a gold sticker to our spiritual star chart. It is the holy place that intimacy with God flourishes. If I never talked to my husband, we wouldn’t have a good, deep, authentic relationship. It’s the same with prayer when it comes to our relationship with God. When I talk to my husband, it isn’t to win his approval; it’s to grow closer to him. This includes the moments that are hard to talk about and the moments I don’t want to talk at all. Again, it’s the same when it comes to prayer and our relationship with God. What makes Christianity different from any other religion is the intimate and personal relationship we are called to have with Jesus. God is our Lord, Father, and friend. Since we are called into relationship with Him, we are called to talk to Him. Prayer doesn’t need to be a spiritual homework assignment, but an incredible opportunity to grow deeply close to our Creator. He desires for us to draw near to Him in every emotion and circumstance (1 Peter 5:7). He doesn’t want us to hide anything from Him but to honestly bring every ounce of hurt, annoyance, heartbreak, and anger to Him so we can process these feelings in His presence rather than on our own or in a way that only creates harder feelings. Although He already knows everything about us (Psalm 139), it is an act of faith and trust to bring them to Him in our own words. This is what true love is, way greater than any relationship we can have on earth. God calls us into true love in His presence, and prayer is the greatest way we can actively experience Him.
Supplication
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” In Matthew 7:7 Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” We are called to bring to God the desires of our hearts. Whether it be big or small requests, God hears us and always answers. I know I have been guilty of only bringing my requests to God, leaving out praise and repentance, with no desire for a closeness to Him. Can you relate? It can be easy to fall into believing we follow God only for what He can do for us. All of the other aspects of prayer are so crucial for our supplication to be rooted in. When we understand who God is through a close relationship with Him, our desires are going to line up with His will. If we are genuinely praying for God’s will to be done in our lives, our requests aren’t going to be out of selfish ambition. Let “Your will be done” resound louder than any request you lay before Him. When we invite God into every area, He tends to answer in ways that we never would have imagined. When we ask for more, we receive more; not necessarily in the sense of receiving more things, but receiving more because we see the rich, intentional hand of God moving in our lives. “Prayer is awe, intimacy, struggle – yet the way to reality. There is nothing more important, or harder, or richer, or more life-altering. There is absolutely nothing so great as prayer.” (Keller) A deep prayer life is not only for the intelligent theologians, spiritual pastors, and monks. Prayer is for everyone who has a relationship with God. It is the essence of our relationship with Him. The more we pray, the more we will see Him and know Him. In a world that is busy and loud with information and noise that is meaningless in the grand scheme of life, there is no better way to add value and peace to your life than stepping away from all devices and people and spending time with God in prayer each day. In every area of your life, invite God in through prayer. Draw near to Him, and feel the radiant presence of God drawing near to you.
Questions to Consider
Is prayer a foundational practice in your walk with God?
What are practical steps you can take to make prayer a part of your everyday life?
Resources to help grow your prayer life:
The book of Psalms – see how real and authentic David prays. This can be an encouragement in your own prayer life.
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
Step 6: Repent (Re:generation Recovery) – https://www.regenerationrecovery.org/participant-resources/step-6-repent
Sources:
Keller, Timothy. Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. Hodder, 2016.
ESV: Study Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016.