Prayer is foundational to the Christian life. It’s how we maintain a connection with the God who made us.
In the New Testament, Paul instructs us to pray without ceasing. So it’s surprising to realize that only about half of American Christians pray on a daily basis.
If we want our lives to reflect the light of Jesus, doesn’t it make sense to spend as much time praying to him as much as possible?
There are many benefits of prayer. The Bible is very clear about how important prayer is to the life of a believer. But how exactly does prayer help? Keep reading for some fresh inspiration down below.
Focus on the Right Things
Spending time praying, whether it’s five minutes a day, 30 minutes a day, or two hours a day, helps us to reorient our lives. Our society is so fast-paced, and our lives are so busy, that it is easy to go through the day without thinking about the important things in life.
We are so caught up with work, and getting the kids to school, and paying the bills. But we don’t consider God, and what he’s trying to say to us in the midst of our busy schedule.
Prayer is an opportunity to shift your focus from things that are trivial and temporary, to things that are eternal. Prayer engages our spirit to focus on who God is, what his plans are, and what is actually important in life.
If you ever feel like life is just passing you by, then you probably aren’t spending enough time in prayer.
Maintain a Personal Relationship With God
In the New Testament, Jesus modeled a life of prayer. His prayer was direct conversations with God the Father.
Prayer is all about a relationship with the one who made us. And while most of the time, we won’t hear the audible voice of God like many in the Bible did, he still speaks to us.
Prayer is more than than a religious practice. It’s more than reciting verses or going through your laundry list of wants and needs. It’s an opportunity to be real before God. It’s an opportunity to tell him how you feel, but also to declare his truth, even if it’s not your present reality.
And it’s an opportunity to experience the presence of God, to feel encouraged, and to find hope even in your darkest moments.
Reflect on Your Life
One of the benefits of fasting and prayer is that it causes you to reflect. When you set aside time to pray, it means you aren’t doing other things. It means you’ve put everything else on hold for a few moments.
By eliminating the distractions, you can spend time reflecting on your life; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
It’s an opportunity to examine your heart and see where you could improve. Prayer gives you the ability to speak out your fears and face them. And it gives you the opportunity to think about all the things you are grateful for and express that gratitude to God.
It’s so important to slow down and take time away from screens and media and busy schedules to be alone with our thoughts and with God. Only those who reflect on their past and think about their future will find themselves progressing in life.
Declare What You Have Been Learning
Christians spend a lot of time learning. From attending church and bible studies to watching sermons online, and even listening to Southwest Radio Church in the car.
And learning is very important. So continue to seek guidance from your reverend, and keep listening to church radio. We need to spend time learning about who God is and what His Word says. But learning is only half of the picture.
We also need to put into practice what we are learning. Jesus doesn’t just want people to learn about him. He modeled a life that he wants us to live. He called us to follow him, not just talk about him.
Prayer is the beginning of taking action. It’s how we declare to God, and to ourselves, the truth that we are learning. It’s how we solidify his words in our minds.
If we are going to live the Christian faith and follow the instructions that God gave us to bring hope to the world, it starts with prayer.
Prayer Is Easy
The Bible is full of commands. But that’s not a bad thing. These commands given to us by God are actually intended to set us free and to be the people he created us to be, free from anger and depression, and hatred.
Some commandments can seem overwhelming, such as when Jesus instructed his followers to pick up their cross and follow him. Others are a bit easier to digest.
Prayer is one of the easiest aspects of the Christian faith that we can exercise on a regular basis. It doesn’t take a lot of effort. In fact, you can do it at any time. It doesn’t require a certain environment or any specific rituals. Just open your mouth and start talking to God. He hears every word.
Don’t know where to start? Jesus provided the simplest roadmap to prayer in Matthew 6: 9-13. Start with this prayer.
It can help to read it in The Message translation, for a more relevant choice of wording.
You can also find examples of prayers that you can follow, such as the Rosary. The benefits of praying the Rosary include remembering deep Catholic tradition as you recite various components of pray.
You can also just turn the radio on in the car and listen. Radio prayer can also provide examples of how easy it is to pray.
The Benefits of Prayer are Endless
The benefits of prayer don’t end there. In fact, this is just the beginning. The more you read the Bible, the more you’ll see how prayer impacts the lives of every person in both the Old and New Testaments.
Of course, as Christians, Jesus is the ultimate example of prayer. But every book of the Bible is in there for a reason. There are countless examples of how to pray, and what prayer does for believers.
Looking for more faith-building tips like this? Be sure to check out our blog today to keep reading.
