What is prayer?

Prayer is communication with God, our Father. Communication is the key to a good relationship with anyone. Imagine you do not need to make an appointment to speak to the most-high, an excellent opportunity we all take for granted. Matthew 7:7 says, “asks, and you will receive.” Everything we need in life can be ours; start receiving by communicating with God.

Jesus taught us the basics of prayers that guide us through day-to-day life. One instruction is not to show off about our prayer life. “When you pray, do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I’m about to tell you is true. They have received their total reward. “When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can’t be seen. He will reward you. He sees what is done secretly.” – Matthew 6:5-6

What does prayer exactly do in our lives? It helps us endure trials and temptations. When the disciples went to the Mount of Olives, Jesus asked them to pray so that they do not fall into temptations. (Luke 22:40) You see, Jesus, the son of God, also prayed to God, and one of the most crucial prayers was when He asked His Father to remove the crucifixion cup away from him. Luke 22:42-46 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but your, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And in agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground. He rose from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow. And said unto them, why do you sleep? Pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Therefore, clearly prayer is our source of strength.

 

Prayer is therapeutic. Can you imagine being able to “rant” to an individual who is more superior to you but humble enough to lend you a listening ear and grant you the answer you need; without judging? We are instructed in Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”You need to note that what we received after we have prayed is dependent on the level of belief. So the ingredient to answered prayer is asking but asking in faith.

An integral tool of getting closer to God is through prayer. It is one of the channels of direct communication with God; we know Him more and His ways through prayer. The Bible says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18.

Most importantly, the fellowship and communion of saints are very dependent on prayer. Prayer is crucial to keeping a close-knit relationship with each other. When Jesus resurrected, and before the Holy Spirit’s coming, the disciples were praying in the upper room. Prayer kept the disciples and followers of Jesus in unison

Finally, if you are struggling with prayer, worry not; you can reap the above benefits with what Jesus taught us in the Lord’s prayer in; Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray:

”Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

On earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil .”

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