Prayer is the responsibility of every Christian. God's Word tells us to pray. But we don't pray just because we have to; we pray because talking to God is a privilege. Prayer is entering into a relationship with God so we can determine His will in the matter and call His will into existence upon the earth.
Prayer was the priority in Jesus' life. He considered it more important than physical rest, and He was commonly pictured praying all night. Talking with the Father took priority over His social activity. Scripture often refers to Jesus going off alone to be with the Father. He made prayer a priority over His physical appetite. He fasted for long periods withdrawing from physical food in the wilderness after his baptism to release spiritual power. Prayer was the primary communication link between Himself and the Father. Every major event and every minor decision in Jesus' life was faced with prayer. If we are to be like Christ, we must follow His example. Jesus did not pray because He had to; Jesus prayed because He wanted to be obedient to, united with, and empowered by the Father. Prayer is to be our priority for those same reasons. Someone has said that seven days without prayer makes one Christian weak. Prayer is the way that we, His branches, draw the nutrients we need from Jesus the Vine to produce the fruit of His Spirit in our lives. And we do this because, as believers, prayer is to be our primary ministry.
The Bible says that you are Christ's Bride. Your marital relationship with Him will deepen as you spend time alone with Him, sharing heart to heart. Prayer is that unique channel of dialogue between you and the Lord. Intimacy is cultivated as you invest time in your relationship with Him. The result will be knowing His will and making His will known to the people.
The Bible says in John 4:24 that God is Spirit. Therefore, to know and understand the things of God, your spiritual eyes need to be opened. Keenness in the Spirit realm comes as you discipline yourself in prayer, praise, fasting, and renewing your mind through God's Word. The more our spiritual eyes are opened, the more understanding we will have of our physical circumstances. Jesus was so spiritually attuned that He said: "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it. Peter said, "Master, the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon You." But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of me." Peter was looking at the natural touch; Jesus was aware that something was happening in the spiritual realm. Prayer ignites our natural senses so the light of His Spirit can shine in, on the motives of the power and principalities at work around us.
The Scripture tells us in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus went to the cross for the joy set before Him. How could the Cross possibly have brought Him joy? This is because through His death and resurrection He was able to accomplish everything and send the Comforter who is the Holy Spirit so that all believers could have ongoing access to the Father. Romans 8:34 says that Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. As we follow Christ's example, we too must freely give ourselves to prayer. When we pray, we are not seeking to be seen by men, but rather to stand in the presence and pleasure of the Lord. Our times with God the Father bring us into the oneness of heart with Him.
As you spend time talking with the Father and reading His Word, your prayers will begin to reflect the heart, mind, and Word of the Lord. God's Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God will meet you right where you are, using the amount of knowledge you have about His Word. Your prayer will then become God's own Word alive in your mouth. Praying God's Word brings results and answers because God Himself said that His Word will not return to Him empty, without accomplishing what He desires, and without accomplishing the matter for which He sent it. When you pray let faith be the motivation behind your prayer. Then you will have the assurance that He will work in cooperation with you. And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is. and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Prayer that is based on faith bears fruit for the Kingdom and pleases God
Prayer makes a way for God to act His will on earth. Jesus told us to pray as in the Lord's prayer, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". God has chosen to work through people, not around them. Jesus also says in Matthew 18:18, "Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". Here we see that God has limited some of His activities on the earth and will respond only through the prayers of His children. God waits for us on Earth to pray for things to happen. Heaven is seeking for a person, an intercessor, to plead for His perfect will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
As you continue in prayer, the kingdom of God will become real through the miracles of God operating in your life. You will see the manifest power of God confirm your spiritual walk. Jesus said in mark 16:17-18 that these signs will accompany those who have believed in My name: they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents; and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well. Do not be afraid to believe God for the miraculous.
Also, remember that the Bible says you have an enemy. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. This shows that you are called to do spiritual warfare through prayer over Satan's strongholds until you win. Satan will usually attack us most in our greatest area of strength. I used to think the reverse was true—that he would attack most in our area of greatest weakness. But I have found that in our areas of weakness we are more to call upon the Lord and rely upon Him. In our areas of strength, however, we tend to rely on ourselves and often find ourselves burning out from fighting our battles alone. Every area of your life is subject to the enemy's attack, so you must fight on your knees before you can stand on your mission field. Jesus, Himself had to battle Satan through prayer for His ministry and in all other situations. We find this clearly illustrated in His wilderness temptation. He experienced spiritual warfare and won before He ever went out into public ministry. You too must win before you can fully function in what God has called you to do. The success of your Christian life is dependent on winning which comes through prayers.
Prayer is not just a call to warfare. It is also an invitation to rest. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6 that "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Knowing that God is on your side will help you to enter into the rest He offers. He invites you to give Him your problems, cares, concerns, and worries. Cast your burden upon [Him], and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Cease striving and partner with Him. He loves you and longs to share His heart with you. He has called you, dear child of God, to rest in His love as you come away with Him in prayer.
In conclusion, many times the fate of the world is not in the hands of the governors and Kings, but in the hands of intercessors. You too can influence the world just as Daniel did. Therefore, as God's children let us align ourselves with the purpose and power of God through leading a lifestyle of prayer and He is able to do things through us that He could not do otherwise.
