Pray, Therefore...

The need to pray is kind of one of those “duh” things as Christians. If you consider life in the natural, the truth of our need to pray shouldn’t be hard to grasp, and yet it is one of the struggles many have. The word “pray” or some similar version of it is in the Bible over 500 times. Granted some of those are not used to guide us to speaking to God. But that still points to the value of the intent.

The Children of Israel repeatedly prayed to God for various things. The Disciples/Apostles prayed all the time. Paul led us in his teaching to pray. And he often began his letters/epistles by pointing to the fact that he prayed for those he was writing to.

Jesus not only taught us the parameters of how we should pray, but He is one of the most well known persons of prayer Himself! (Mark 1:35, John 17)

It is through prayer that we speak to God. (Proverbs 15:29) Can you imagine not being able to talk to God? That would make Him an idol instead of the Living, Almighty God that He is.

Often it is through prayer that we hear back from Him. He speaks to us in many fashions, but prayers is one of the keys of our communication with Him.

The reasons for prayer are very lengthy. Here are just some of them:

• We are called to pray for our needs (supplications) - Philippians 4:6

• The needs of others - James 5:16

• Those who are in authority over us - 1 Timothy 2:1-4

• The Kingdom of God - Matthew 6:10

• For greater understanding - Ephesians 1:17

• The hidden things of God - Jeremiah 33:3

• To keep from temptations - Matthew 26:41

• In honor to God - Matthew 6:9

• For salvation - Matthew 6:12

• Deliverance - Psalm 34:17

• For those who are against us - Luke 6:28

• For healing - James 5:13-18

• For strength - Luke 21:36
  

We are also told to pray constantly in Romans 12:12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Which both mean to be ready and always open to communications with God.

The basics of this all is that we need to be in prayer always. Whether it is for needs in the flesh, the spiritual, or simply to be ready to hear from God.

As I have said in the past, there are three majors things that must become a part of our lives in order for us to grow (and remember the opposite of growth is not stagnation - it's death). A sort of "Trifecta" of actions. Just as there are needs for us to grow as humans, there are needs for us in the spiritual. And in the same manner, if those needs are not met by the human body, it will suffer and die. Such is with our spiritual life. If these needs are not met, then the spiritual body will die.

The difference is that our bodies are temporary anyway. But our spirits will go on to face eternity without God. Such a thing is described in the Bible as a horrible existence.

These are the three things:

1. PRAY - Communicate with our God. Listen and learn from Him to live as we should. Walk in holiness. Know His goodness and grow in our hearts and our spirit. Throughout your day!

2. READ - The most important book in our lives will always the Word of God. There is nothing wrong with reading other books. But the most important thing you will ever read is His Book. Daily!

3. WORSHIP - There many examples of worship in Scripture. But, ultimately, we worship God because He is worthy of it. And, in the midst of that worship, His presence draws near and He does amazing things.
   

These are not necessarily in order. They each are part of the Christian walk and do not need to be divided into some special order. Trying to make one more important than the other will cause a lack in one or another. It’s much like the combination of air, water, and food. You might die first by a lack of air, but a lack of any of the three will eventually kill you.

My point today, however, is the need to pray. Talk to the Maker. He wants to hear from us. Make certain He is involved in your whole day, not just your moment.