Quick Summary ↬ God desires Christians to pray and grow closer to Him. Learn the reasons to talk to God daily, communicate better with Him, and enhance your praying skills
Prayer is the act of communicating with God. It’s the breath of a spiritual life. Many Christians don’t typically try to improve how they communicate with God; if God listens to us by reciting a simple prayer and making simple requests, why fix what isn’t broken?
Because a couple of issues are easy to arise:
- Lack of Passion: due to reliance on rot prayer memorization
- Lack of Variation: due to adopting only one way of praying exclusively, usually repeating the same prayers
- Lack of Devotion: prayers are mouthed mechanically and repeated without devotion, assuming “that they will be heard for their many words” Mark 6:7.
Christians should use the gift of creativity; in fact, ‘create’ is the first verb in the Bible. If God’s creative Spirit creates and animates our lives, why would Christians’ communion with God ever be boring? Going through life without enhancing our praying skills would be a shame.
Getting good at the different ways to pray creatively will bring us closer to God because we can talk to Him better. We’ll start praying at any time of the day and for no particular reason — not because a preacher said so, but because we want to. We’ll always have a reason to talk to God, whether we feel happy, sad, lonely, sorrowful, ecstatic, afraid, or anxious.
The Purpose of Prayer
Prayer is a fundamental aspect of the Christian life, but what is its purpose? At its core, prayer is communication with God. It is a way to connect with our Heavenly Father, express our thoughts and emotions, and seek guidance and direction.
One way to think of prayer is as a conversation with God. Just as we would talk to a close friend or family member about our hopes, fears, and dreams, we can talk to God about anything and everything in our hearts and minds, expressing gratitude for blessings received, asking for forgiveness for our sins, and seeking wisdom and guidance for the challenges we face.
But prayer is not just about talking to God. It is also about listening to Him. Through prayer, we can hear His voice and discern His will for our lives. It requires us to be still and quiet and to listen for His voice speaking to our hearts.
Ultimately, the purpose of prayer is to deepen our relationship with God. As we spend time in His presence, we grow closer to Him and become more like Him. We learn to trust Him more fully, rely on His strength and wisdom, and surrender our lives to His will.
To fully live the life of a Christian, one must at least establish some form of daily prayer to God.
Without communication, how can there be a relationship? And without a relationship with God, how can one claim to be a true Christian (as opposed to being a “mere Christian,” as C.S. Lewis would put it)?
God Desires Christians to Pray
Let’s read some quotes from the New Testament that show that Jesus wants Christians to pray to God in confidence.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. […] whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you
Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
whatever we ask we receive from him […]
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us
When we say that Jesus wants Christians to pray confidently, this means every Christian must communicate with God regardless of their needs. We establish a better relationship with God when we pray without requesting anything. And when we do have requests, we pray to tell God of our issues, even if eventually His Will will be done (as we mention when praying the Lord’s Prayer). Ultimately, prayer is a way of aligning our will with God’s will and submitting our lives to His plan and purposes. As we pray for His guidance and direction, we can discern His will for our lives and follow the path He has laid out for us.
Although we pray confidently, knowing that God is listening to us, it’s easy to feel frustrated, angry, and lose hope when some prayers go unanswered. It’s easy to forget that God has an ultimate plan for us, just as He had a plan for Jesus on the cross (even if Jesus prayed, “remove this cup from me […]”).
We settle the debate about unanswered prayers in another upcoming article in this prayer series.
To further understand the importance of prayer, let’s take a closer look at some of the prayers in the Bible.
Example Prayers in the Bible
The Bible is filled with examples of prayer in the Old and New Testaments.
Abraham prayed for God’s guidance and protection as he journeyed through the wilderness: “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” (Genesis 15:8). David prayed for strength and deliverance from his enemies: “Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!” (Psalm 31:2).
Here are some additional examples of prayer from the Old Testament:
- Hannah’s Prayer of Thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1-10) — After years of barrenness, Hannah prayed fervently for a child, and God granted her request by giving her a son, Samuel. In response, Hannah offered a prayer of thanksgiving, praising God for His faithfulness and power.
- Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-14) — When God asked Solomon what he desired, Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment to govern God’s people well. God was pleased with Solomon’s request and granted him wisdom, wealth, and honor.
- Hezekiah’s Prayer for Healing (2 Kings 20:1-11) — Hezekiah prayed fervently for healing when he became gravely ill. God granted his request by adding fifteen years to his life. Hezekiah praised God for His mercy and power in response.
- Ezra’s Prayer of Confession (Ezra 9:5-15) — When Ezra learned that some of the Israelites had intermarried with foreign women, he was grieved and prayed a prayer of confession on behalf of the people, acknowledging their disobedience and asking for God’s forgiveness.
- Nehemiah’s Prayer for Success (Nehemiah 1:4-11) — When Nehemiah heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down, he prayed a prayer of confession and then asked God for success in his efforts to rebuild the walls. God granted Nehemiah’s request and helped him to complete the task.
In the New Testament, we see examples of prayer from Jesus Himself and His disciples and early followers. Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray, demonstrating the importance of spending time alone with God: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed “ (Mark 1:35). He also taught His disciples how to pray, giving them the Lord’s Prayer as a model for their prayers: “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…’” (Matthew 6:9-10).
In his letters to the first churches of Christians, Paul also gives examples of how to pray. He often prayed for the spiritual growth and well-being of his fellow believers, as well as for God’s wisdom and guidance in his ministry: “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16). “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).
Prayer And Destiny
The concept of destiny is intricately tied to our faith in God and His divine plan for our lives. God has a specific purpose for each person, and destiny is ultimately in His hands.
This belief can sometimes lead to questions about the role of prayer in shaping our destiny. How much control do we have over our fate, and how much is predetermined by God’s will?
Prayer is a powerful tool to align ourselves with God’s plan for our lives. As we have seen, through prayer, we communicate with God to discern His will and purpose and to ask for His guidance and strength to fulfill that purpose.
However, we should remember that prayer is not a means of controlling or manipulating our destiny. Instead, it is a way of submitting to God’s will and trusting in His plan for our life, even if it may not align with our desires or expectations. Destiny is in God’s hands, and He knows what is best for us (and for others indirectly), even if we don’t fully understand it then.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
The proverbs of old hold everlasting wisdom. Our understanding of events is limited by our perceptions and experiences, bound by time, space, and all intricacies. We cannot fully grasp the true nature of the universe, the events taking place, and our role within them, because we are analyzing predestination from a realm bound by time.
Any attempt to break the barrier and make sense of the universe from our human perspective has failed.
The concept of a multiverse, or the idea that there may be multiple universes existing parallel to our own, has gained traction in recent years as a potential explanation for some of the mysteries of our universe. However, while the concept of a multiverse has been explored in science fiction and popular culture, it remains a topic of debate and speculation within the scientific community.
One of the main challenges in proving the existence of a multiverse is the lack of empirical evidence to support the theory. While some mathematical models and theoretical frameworks suggest the possibility of a multiverse, no concrete evidence supports its existence. The notion of a multiverse also presents several philosophical and conceptual challenges, including questions about the nature of reality and the limits of human understanding.
In light of these limitations, it is best to recognize that destiny is, and will always be, beyond our complete understanding, given the limitations discussed.
Our role as human beings is to navigate the uncertain waters of life with humility and gratitude for the blessings that God has given and the grace through our unmerited salvation through Jesus Christ. So let’s keep praying as Jesus instructed and keep the communication line open.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Kinds of Prayers
Some books and articles go overboard and feature dozens of categories of prayers, but this doesn’t help us in our pursuit of enhancing our prayers.
Instead of categorizing our prayers according to WHAT we pray for, it’s better to focus on HOW we pray. That way, we will not be constrained by what to pray for; we’ll be free to pray for anything regardless of the adopted kind of prayer.
Therefore, let’s categorize prayers as either impromptu short prayers, or longer meditative ones, both essential in our Christian lives.
Impromptu Prayers
Impromptu prayers are simple: wherever we are, as if conversing with someone, we direct our attention inward and talk to God about what is happening or how we feel.
Most Christians resort to this since preparation for it is not required. We are used to conversing this way: just as picking up a phone to talk to a friend:
- We start our prayers with a greeting
- “Dear God…”
- We say what’s on our minds, thanking them, praising their works, describing a situation, making a request, etc. We mention we are calling (praying) to:
- “give thanks for this wonderful day”
- “I’m having difficulty in […]”
- We ask them what they think
- “What should I do?”
- “How would I resolve this issue in a proper Christian way?”
Jesus prayed this way, for example, before Peter confessed him as the Christ:
Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Notice that Jesus did not always have to retreat to a calm place away from his disciples to pray during that day.
We may use impromptu prayers especially when overwhelmed by our work, studies, or chores. Our daily commutes could be great times to worship, which would help us avoid bad habits like judging others, cursing the traffic, or worrying too much about deadlines. Instead, we put all our problems in God’s hands, helping us fulfill what Paul instructs the Thessalonians and Ephesians to do:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
We pray without ceasing when we seek to communicate with God as much as possible throughout the day, meditating on our thoughts and actions. Therefore, if we redefine prayer as “any thought, word, or action with no other object than loving and pleasing God,” we would easily live a life of prayer.
Prayer without ceasing is about consciously bringing Jesus into our hearts and minds every day. As He eats with us, laughs with us, shares our pains, and comforts us, we subconsciously acquire the manners we should behave as Christians and learn from Him to become Christ-like. Our actions would be in communion with God. This daily communion would be better than any other because it is present in ourselves and everlasting, not tied to a specific place and time.
Pray during the day by thinking about the desire to please Him in every way, loving him with all our being, seeing His presence in all of creation, immersing ourselves in the Holy Spirit, feeling and enjoying and meditating on the gifts of the Spirit, and being thankful for His grace, patience, and love.
Meditative Prayers
Meditative prayers are prayers that require complete concentration. They are usually performed in seclusion in a dedicated place of worship (in our room, a church, etc.).
We see Jesus praying this way on multiple occasions:
But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Notice that in Mark’s passage, Jesus used the early morning hour to pray. When praying, the time of the day does not matter. Still, for a proper meditative prayer without distractions, it would be best to pray during the quiet hours of the day. Therefore, praying very early in the morning or late at night would be ideal.
Choosing to pray directly after waking up has several benefits. In the morning, the mind is in its freshest and cleanest state, which helps us concentrate on our prayer. Also, when we pray at the beginning of the day, we prepare our minds to keep God in our hearts proactively, making it easier to resist temptations throughout the rest of the day.
Praying at night before sleeping also has its benefits. As with praying early in the morning, praying at night provides a quiet atmosphere to help us concentrate on our prayer, being alone with God, and having undisturbed communion with Him. We can be retroactive and analyze our actions throughout the day, which helps identify recurring sins we should deal with.
Praying proactively and retroactively is a powerful habit that significantly benefits your journey with Christ. You may choose days when you pray early in the morning and late at night before bed, taking advantage of all the benefits. Jesus did this before choosing the Twelve Apostles:
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles
What’s Next?
In this part of our series on prayer, we have seen what the Bible has to say about prayer and how people from the Old and New Testaments transformed their lives and those of others through prayer.
Prayer should therefore be a regular and meaningful part of our lives as we seek to fulfill God’s will each day.
The upcoming articles on prayer are guaranteed to keep you interested. We’ll talk about how to improve your prayers and give real-world examples. We’ll also talk about the tricky question Christians face when trying to prove their faith when their prayers aren’t answered. So stay tuned, and don’t forget to subscribe!
