WHY IS PRAYER NECESSARY?
I once did not have a prayer life. I only prayed when it was necessary. I was living an ordinary life; not knowing I was depriving myself of God’s purpose for my life. But the whole thing changed when I gained admission into the Higher Institution, God ordered my steps to people who assisted me grow spiritually.
Before I gained admission into this school, I already had this encounter with God; when I knew I was meant to always pray; even if I didn’t feel like it. But you know; as a youth, there will always be distractions. These distractions will make you feel nothing is wrong; It’s just the normal phase for every youth. But that’s exactly what the devil wants you think.
Prayer is God’s authorized system of communion and fellowship with Him. Praying only when it’s necessary, is the first step to destruction. It is when you give the devil direct access to your life. Although, in the physical realm everything seems normal. Things are going smoothly like they should; so you feel praying when it’s necessary is normal. You’re able to provide food and water, you’re very much okay financially; so you see no need to have a personal relationship with God. You sleep and have good dreams that are very satisfying, your health is in a very good condition and so you’re okay with that life. Unknowing to you; that a prayer life is the key to true dominion. If only you knew how much you have lost in the spiritual realm, and how much time you have wasted or how much you could have brought from the spiritual realm to the physical realm for manifestation. In the place of prayer, that’s where the exchange happens. You’re most powerful on your knees.
The devil manipulates so many people into thinking they do not need God. We all remember this passage in the bible, in the book of Matthew, when the devil went to Jesus and offered Him so many things. These are the things God could provide, but according to His timing. But the devil offered to provide those things immediately; if only Jesus would bow and worship him. If Jesus was just the Word alone, and had not gained the spirit of God, neither did He go to the wilderness to pray and fast, His flesh could have succumbed to the will of the devil. So, a life without prayer is a life without power.
IT ISN’T ALWAYS ABOUT “REQUEST” OR “LONGEVITY”
When you love God so much, when your love for Him knows no bound, it won’t be prayer as you’ve always known it to be. It will be an interactive section. And by the time you know it, so many minutes have gone by. You wouldn’t know you’ve spent so much time praying.
It happens to me that; most times when I’m alone and I begin to pray, my mouth just don’t know what to say anymore. I mean, there are so many things to ask God for. But ever since I gave submission to God’s will, I don’t ask for too much in prayer. A lot of people make so many requests in prayer; but I hardly request for things when I talk to God; because I got to understand that my life is not my own…funny right? I’ve come to realize that, at some point, even I don’t know what’s best for me. When I didn’t have a relationship with God; and just pray, I get so down whenever I asked for things and didn’t get it; despite the consistency in making that particular request. So I’ve just learnt to leave it all to God.
If you see me spending much time in prayer, I’m not requesting for things; rather I’m discussing my affairs with Him, or I’m asking Him to reveal Himself to me(I want to know Him more) and sometimes, I worship God with songs, and tell Him how much I appreciate Him. I remember times He came to my aid and even times He didn’t respond; but I love Him nevertheless, and so I begin to cry. I tell Him how “I’m nothing without Him”. So even in prayers, you can worship God.
But don’t get me wrong… It’s right to lay your requests before God. It is one of the reasons why we pray. God knows the desires of our heart, even before we bring them to Him; but loves to listen to His children nevertheless. The bible says in Eph 6:18(kjv) “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. But don’t go into prayers all the time because of your request! Also pray because you want to grow in the knowledge of THE FATHER.
Now Apostle Paul in 1Thessalonians 5:17(kjv) said “pray without ceasing” this doesn’t mean to pray for hours upon hours…no! It means to develop a lifestyle of prayer. It also means to not give up on prayer. Few people mistake this verse for longevity of prayer. The length of your prayer doesn’t determine rapid answer. The point in that verse is to maintain a constant prayer life; because it’s like a gateway to deeper communion with God
Most times, we stay long in prayer asking God for one particular thing, making sure that our prayer is being heard. Matthew 6:7(kjv) “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking.
NOTE: When you stay long in prayer; in repetition, asking something of THE FATHER, if it’s not in His will, no matter how long or how consistent you pray about it, you won’t get answers.
HOW TO PRAY THE RIGHT WAY
When I was going through my bible some months back, I opened to the book of 1samuel to read. 1samuel chap 1, talks about Hannah the wife of Elkanah.
Hannah was sorrowful because her adversary mocked her, because the Lord had shut her womb. So one faithful day, Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, and she was bitter, and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore. And as Hannah began to pray, she prayed thus: Verse 11(kjv) says “And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. ”
This particular verse got me thinking!! Hannah because of her bitterness on how her adversary mocked her, was in the best position to pray to God to give her a child in order to mock her enemies back. But she didn’t pray that way; but instead she vowed that if God would give her a man child, she will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life.
Many of us, when we’re faced with hardship or difficulties, we don’t know the right way to pray; because of the pressure. And that is why we have the holy spirit to teach us the right way to talk to God about our heart desires.
Apostle Joshua Selman once said “If your prayer does not move you, it can never move Heaven” Hannah’s prayer was so deep, that tears were rolling down her eyes. Her prayer had moved her. So when you go to God in prayer, make sure your expression shows how depthful your words are.
Now, the bible says, and as she kept on praying, Eli observed her mouth. Her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. He thought she was drunk. He told her to put away her wine; but Hannah had replied him that she wasn’t drunk; but was pouring out her soul to God.
Verse 17 says “Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him”
Verse 18–19 tells how Hannah went home believing that God had already done it; which brought me to Heb 11:6 “But without Faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of those that diligently seek Him”.
My dear beloved, even if it seems like there’s no hope; keep praying with that faith that God has done it already.
Prayer point:
- Father give me the grace to pray earnestly no matter how dark my situation is
- Father please never let the Holy spirit depart from me