Written by Tori Elwood
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,” (Philippians 4:6).
Some may ask, what is prayer? How do I pray?
In this article I am going to talk about the importance of prayer, how it can lift us up, what happens during and after praying, and how you can pray.
The Importance of Prayer
Prayer is very important. I know that when we mention the word “important” sometimes the word “burden” may come to mind. Prayer is not a burden and our Lord does not want us to feel burdened by prayer but rather He wants us to know that it is important. Prayer is a blessing from the Lord, it is our way of communicating with Him! The Lord knows what we need and when we need it. He knows everything about us right down to how we are feeling. He even knows how our day is going, but despite that He still wants to hear it all from you.
Why is it important to pray?
When we pray, we are not just asking for something or praising the Lord, we are spending time with God by communicating with Him. Prayer is also a way of helping us fight the battles we face whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual.
The Lord says in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” This verse shows us that you can put your trust in the Lord because He will answer your prayer according to His will.
How prayer can lift us up
Personally, when I pray I am comforted by the fact that I have someone greater than any human and of more understanding to talk to, someone who will listen, someone who is always working and someone who will answer my prayers according to His will.
After spending time in prayer with the Lord, I feel enlightened. Whether I have praised Him in prayer or voiced my supplications to Him, I feel like a weight has already been lifted off my chest; the Lord gives me peace.
What happens during and after prayer
During prayer, we give praise to the Lord, we ask Him to help us and we intercede for others. When we cannot find the words to pray or when we don’t know what to pray for then the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered,” (Romans 8:26).
Know that God is always listening, He wants to hear from you, He wants to know about your day, the Lord wants to listen and answer. Let the Lord hear you, speak to Him as He is not only a best friend but He is also a Father!
How can you pray?
Personally I pray throughout the day, whether it be about a current issue or just talking about the weather. I talk to the Lord like I would when I’m talking to my family or a friend because 1) the Lord is family and 2) He is my best friend. If I’m in a place where there is no privacy then I will pray inwardly. The first thing I do in the morning is give thanks to the Lord. I feel like it’s always best to start your day off by speaking to the Lord and spending time with Him.
If I’m fellowshipping with other Christians then we pray as a group outwardly. When I do get my private time with the Lord – I pray outwardly. You can pray standing up, you can pray sitting, kneeling or laying down, you can pray while walking. The Lord says to ask for anything in His name (the name of Jesus Christ) and it will be given to you (John 14:13-14, John 16:24). Personally, I always start my prayers with “Dear Heavenly Father, Lord God” and I end my prayers with “in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen”.
Prayer is very important and it is enlightening. Prayer is a blessing from the Lord which I am personally thankful for as I get to talk to Him. God is always listening and He will answer your prayers according to His will. I hope this article is helpful and encouraging. God bless you all!
