7 Reasons Why Prayer Is Important

There are very many reasons why it is important to pray, but for today, we will learn 7 reasons why prayer is important.
In our previous teachings about prayer, we did mention severally that prayer is important. But why is it important? Join us again today, as we take a look at 7 reasons why prayer is important. 

7 Reasons Why Prayer Is Important

It is salient to note that, not everyone finds prayer to be important or necessary in their life. Just as there are people who have lived their entire life without God, there are many who also live without prayer.

The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved, it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Likewise, there are people who see prayer as an “imaginary communication” with a “non-existent” being.

Just as there are many people who want nothing to do with God, there are many people who don't believe prayer is of any use in their life.

But to us Christians, prayer has formed an integral part of our lives. I cannot imagine my life without prayer. Prayer is like the air we breath.

Any Christian who can comfortably go a day without prayer has some much guts, they're bold enough to go a day without God. But there's no wisdom in that, it's riskier than jumping from a skyscraper.

How important is prayer to a Christian? The Prophets of old were prayerful people. Everyone who knew God in the old testament never treated their prayer life with levity. 

  • We saw the exploits which Daniel and his friends did in the kingdom of Babylon due to prayer (Daniel 1-12, Daniel 2:18-30). 
  • King David never for once lost his battle against his enemies, because he first fought and won them on his knees—through prayer (1 Chronicles 14:10-11). 
  • Ruth found favour in the sight of the king and brought deliverance to the Jews through prayer (Ruth 1:16-17). 
  • The powerful miracles performed through the hands of the prophet Elijah, were made possible through prayer (1 Kings 18:30-46). 
  • The prophetess Hannah was barren for a long time, but because of her persistent prayer, the Lord came through for her and gave her a son, Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1-20). 
  • The success of the public ministry of Jesus Christ was powered by prayer. The Lord Himself repeatedly taught His disciples how important it is to pray (Mark 1:35, Luke 18:1, Matthew 17:19-21). 

Since the inception of Christianity, prayer has always had precedence over every Christian activity. Even after the Pentecost experience, the Apostles would occasionally gather to pray, before they went out preaching the gospel.

Acts 6:4 KJV
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 

Prayer is evidently one of the most important aspects of the Christian faith. Prayer is powerful; and prayerful Christians are powerful Christians.

Christianity is a faith walk with God, there is no better way through which we can commune with the invisible God, other than to pray.

Seven Reasons Why Prayer Is Important


There are several reasons why prayer is important in the life of a Christian. We will explore seven major ones as follows:

1. For Spiritual Growth


Prayer helps a Christian to grow spiritually. The more we commune with God, the more we are changed into the image and likeness of Christ. 

The more we meet with God in the place of prayer, the more he transforms and upgrades us spiritually. It is impossible to consistently spend quality time with God in prayer, and remain in the same spiritual level.

John 15:5 ESV
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Prayer is a form of abiding in Christ. It is the Christian who abides in Christ that bears much fruit; and the fruit we bear as a result of abiding in Christ is the evidence of our spiritual growth.

2. For Building Our Relationship With God


Through prayer, we have the opportunity to build our relationship with God and strengthen our bond with Him.

In the absence of communication, there is no relationship. Effective communication brings about a strong and healthy relationship. 

James 4:8a NKJV
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you

A better relationship with God will produce many other benefits. The more we pray, the more we draw closer to God, and the more He will do for us, in us and through us. 

3. Know The Plans Of God And The Plots Of The Enemy


What is in the mind of God concerning us, concerning others, concerning a particular situation or places, can be revealed to us through prayer. 

God wants to carry us along in terms of His plans and the execution of the same. God doesn't want us to be so disconnected from Him, that we wouldn't even know what He is doing in a particular season. 

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know

As we draw close to the Lord through prayer, He takes pleasure in telling and revealing to us His plans, secrets and things we ought to know. 

Again, the plots of darkness are crafted to be concealed by default. But when we pray, God will expose and unveil the plots of darkness to us, so we can pray accordingly to destroy or avert them. 

4. To Stay Victorious In Spiritual Warfare


Victory in spiritual warfare is not obtained by being a nice Christian who doesn't miss church services. It is obtained by striking back at the enemy and his works (through prayer), twice as much as he strikes. 

A Christian who lacks a consistent, quality prayer life will easily fall prey to the tricks, attacks and manipulations of the enemy. 

One powerful way a Christian can resist the enemy (1 Peter 5:8-9) and restrain his activities is through prayer. 

5. To Overcome And Live Above Sin


Prayer is able to keep a Christian out of sin; and sin strives as much to keep a Christian from praying. 

No form of evil loves prayer because prayer destroys evil. Sin thrives in the life of a Christian who doesn't pray; it does its best to ensure that Christian remains that way. 

But by praying and staying prayerful, a Christian becomes more spiritual. More spiritual stature attained through prayer equals better spiritual stamina to resist and live above sin.

Matthew 26:41 ESV
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Prayer subdues the flesh (which is the carnal nature of man) and empowers the inner man to rule over the flesh and its desires, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

6. To Stay Under God's Protection


As we constantly spend quality time with God in prayer, He draws us closer to Himself. The more closer He draws us to Himself, the more protection we can gain from Him. 

The more a Christian neglects prayer, the more they will drift away from God; and the more they lose His protection. You don't expect to remain close to someone and get them to do things for you, if you stopped talking to them. That's common sense. 

7. For Peace And Comfort In Trying Times


Prayer can relieve us of anxiety, to bring peace and comfort in trying times.

Man's walk with God isn't a bed of roses. Christians go through diverse challenges daily. In times like this, the best choice isn't for us to try finding solace in mundane things, but in God. 

1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

The Lord will always calm the storm in us and comfort us through His Spirit in us, each time we take our problems to Him in prayer. 

Final Thoughts On 7 Reasons Why Prayer Is Important


There are many other reasons why prayer is important in the life of a Believer, that we haven't touched on in this article. There are innumerable importance of prayer

Through prayer, a Christian also receives guidance and wisdom from God. He teaches and instructs us in the place of prayer.

We cannot always help people with material things, but we can assist them spiritually by praying for them. That's another big importance of prayer.

Beloved, I trust that you enjoyed reading this article on 7 reasons why prayer is important. If you haven't been praying enough as a Christian, now you have many reasons to pray more. 

Thanks again for reading. God bless you!
Anointed And Gifted Christian Dream Interpreter, Christian Therapist, Writer And Web Designer.