Why do we need to pray?
Ephesians 1:18. Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which you have been called, what are the riches of the glorious inheritance in the saints.
Before we start, questions arise
- Why do we need to pray?
- Why is it important for Us?
- And how to pray?
- Why is prayer important for us?
How to pray?
- Pray regularly (I Thessalonians 5:17)
- Pray alone (Matthew 6:7)
- Accepting our sin against god (I John 1:9)
- Pray with faith (Philippians 4:6)
- Believe that your question/request will be answered (Mark 11:24)
- And pray for all kinds of people (James 5:16 and Matthew 5:44)
- Pray in Group (Matthew 18:20)
- And not to show off prayer skills
Prayers allow us to worship and confess our sin, and prayers bring us near to our Saviour Jesus Christ. Prayer is communication between Father and his children (us). Prayer guides us in our bad times, helps us to avoid bad decisions, leads us to become a good person, and prayers help us to be in good relation with our Lord.
Chronicles 7:14.
If my people who are called by my name humble themself and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land
John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
John 15:7
It says that if people ignore His words (prayers, Bible reading), the word of God (holy spirit, blessings of God) also moves further away from people, creating distance between people and God. When people keep praying, the gap between God and people decreases, and when that happens, we live a blessed life. Also, when Jesus lived among us, he used to pray to the Father frequently.
Matthew 14:23
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
Matthew 26:36
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gellan’ame, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go yonder and pray”.
Mark 1:35
And in the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.
In Matthew 14:23, 26:36 and Mark 1:35, we can see that Jesus frequently used to pray to the Father. In Matthew 14:23, after teaching crowds, he went to the mountain by himself, and he returned when evening came.
In Matthew 26:36
He ordered His disciples not to follow him while he went to pray. We can see that Jesus used to pray alone quite frequently.
And in Mark 1:3
He woke up early in the morning and prayed. He showed that prayer brings us closer to God. Prayer gives us strength and hope, and brings people closer to god. Prayer is the only way to communicate with Jesus l, as Jesus used to pray to His Father
Ephesians 6:12
12. Far from us are not contending against flash and blood, but against principalities, against the power, against the worldly rules of the present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Prayer helps us to fight against the darkness that is hidden within ourselves. Our fight is not against other people; our fight is against corruption within our hearts, against bad influence, against bad habits, against temptation, and against lust.
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Prayer is important to fight against temptation and to fight against evil and bad habits. Prayer strengthens our minds and our hearts against worldly desires. The Holy Spirit guides us from danger and bad decisions.
Praying is a conversation between Father and his children. When we were kids, we used to ask our parents sincerely, quietly and sometimes secretly. We are going to see some bible verses about how we should pray to him.
Pray constantly
I Thessalonians 5:17
As it’s written in I Thessalonians 5:17, we have to pray constantly, which means regularly, every day and shouldn’t be for showing others, our parents or our children, but with a good heart and with purity.
Matthew: 6:7
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret; and your father who sees in secret will reward you.
Our Father sees and looks over us. When we pray alone, He answers our prayers. He loves us when we pray and talk to him. He sees our daily struggles and joys when we come to him and seek his strength.
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Pray with belief and be humble, and confess that we are a sinner because we are born with sin, and we make mistakes now and then by confessing to Him,m He cleanses our sins. God is great, He forgives and is faithful to our sincerity.
Philippians 4:6
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Leave every anxiety and worry before Lord Jesus Christ and pray that you are alive, give thanks that your sins are forgiven in the name of ur Jesus Christ and request prayer.
Mark 11:24
Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Faith and belief in our Saviour Jesus Christ, and believing in him, give us our fruits. What I can say is that what we believe is what we are going to receive. Believing in Him is our biggest strength.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
James 5:16
Main focuses on confession and prayers between communities; confession and prayers make bonds between communities strong. Prayer of principled men/women becomes powerful and effective.
Let’s read Matthew 5:43-48. Jesus told his disciples to love enemies because we are sons/daughters of Father who is in heaven, the one who created the sun, earth and all stars, can he not win over evil. What reward will you get when you love your people,e but when you show your prayer and kindness for them, therefore you try to be like Him because Father is perfect.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Again, in Matthew 18,20 where one or three or many gathered to pray, He listens to them, and their prayers will be heard, and His presence will be among them. There is always some catch-all people believe in Jesus Christ and believe that he was crucified and rose from the dead for their sins, and are honest among themselves.
Matthew 6:5, 7 and 8
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
And in praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him
Jesus told us not to show off, and pray long with empty phrases because they will remain unheard, Father already know what our hearts desire. It’s not about who does better prayer, but who has a clean heart and humbles themselves
Conclusion
Jesus already taught us how to pray, and he ordered us how not to pray. Prayer is not a show-off, but it’s a conversation between Father and children. Be humble, be perfect, cry for sin, ask forgiveness, and believe that you are forgiven. Pray for enemies, pray for communities, guide your brothers and sisters, when you pray in a group and remember Christ died and rose for you, and most importantly,y pray for each other. Don’t blame, but guide.
Matthew 7:7 “And, as, and itt will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."