Importance of Prayer
One of the most important things in my life and my faith is prayer. It’s powerful, intimate, life-giving, and peaceful. Over the years, as my prayer life has strengthened, I realize more and more my need for the Lord. My eyes are continually opened to his might and strength, and my weakness.
Nehemiah 4 paints a beautiful example of the power of prayer. If you haven’t read this book, I encourage you to go read it after this! In the first few chapters, Nehemiah travels back to Jerusalem after hearing about the destruction of the wall around the city. The people of Jerusalem start working with Nehemiah to rebuild what was broken down. Along the way, they run into opposition and criticism. We see Nehemiah’s reaction in chapter 4 verses 1-5 NIV. It says “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, ‘What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?’ Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, ‘What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!’ Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.”
Nehemiah’s first response was to PRAY. He didn’t try to immediately create a plan or form a team to attack…he turned to prayer. He turned to the most reliable, consistent thing in his life - God. What a great example for us to look at. Think about your life and the trials you have faced. When met with opposition, is prayer your first response or your last resort? Do you attempt to fight your battles on your own, or do you surrender it to the Lord?
My mom is one of the biggest prayer warriors I have ever known. She has prayed big prayers for my sisters and me. She’s prayed people in and out of my life, prayed for vision and clarity for my next steps, prayed for my husband before I even met him, and so much more. She has been an incredible example in my own life of what prayer can and should look like. Recently, I’ve started waking up earlier than normal and been praying for an hour before I start my day. Is it always easy? No, but it’s always worth it. Sometimes I’d rather stay in my cozy, warm bed, but every single time I get up, the Lord provides, and he meets me in those moments. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” He wants us to come to him in prayer! I encourage you to not take prayer lightly. It is meaningful and powerful. Lean into it and don’t underestimate it!
Prayer draws us closer to the Lord. Spending time with him and opening up to him creates a deeper relationship between you and your Creator. I like to think about it this way: if one day I meet someone that I want to get to know better, I’m not going to never talk to them or hang out with them. That would never lead to a friendship or relationship of any kind. In the same way, if I want to have a relationship with God, I must spend time with him. Let him into your heart and seek his guidance in every part of your life. Have a big decision to make? Pray. Going through a really difficult season? Pray. Feeling lost and lonely, or content and full of joy? Pray. In every situation, big or small, exciting or scary, we have the freedom and the ability to turn to God and seek wisdom and discernment from him.
Challenges:
Set aside time. Whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, I encourage all of us to carve out undivided time for prayer each day. A powerful prayer life can change everything…don’t neglect it!
Find a prayer partner. I think it’s important to have at least one person in your life that you can confide in for all your prayer requests and they can confide in you for theirs. The 2 of you can intercede for one another in prayer.
Journal. I love my prayer journals! It’s really cool and encouraging to look back at my prayers from years ago and how the Lord answered them. It’s a reminder that he does hear us and has our best interest!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for each person reading this. Thank you for the freedom we have to talk about our faith and what Jesus did for us! We praise you for the opportunity to come to you in prayer. May we open our hands and surrender our hearts to all that you have for us. I ask that we draw near to you each day, knowing we can rest in the fact that your plan is greater than ours. Thank you that we can boldly pray for the desires of our hearts, but humbly trust your will to be done. May our affection for you continue to grow! We love you. In Jesus’ name! Amen!