The benefit of prayer is access. When you pray there is access given to Heaven to interfere on Earth. Let's take a look at the importance of prayer, the right concepts you should have about prayer, and why Jesus instructs us to pray.
What is the Purpose of Prayer ?
Every conversation you initiate with God must have a purpose. It is important then that you know the reasons why you are petitioning God for something. In my first few posts, I mention the purpose of God for mankind…dominion. Since that is our original purpose, a purposeful prayer or conversation with God will find its way back to this; how you can have dominion in the different spheres of your life.
Correcting Your Concept of Prayer
Matthew 6:8 “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
Since God knows what you need before you ask Him, prayer can’t just be a medium to get needs met. Prayer is not you reminding or telling God of what you think He has forgotten about you. In fact prayer in itself was not designed for you to instruct God of what He should do in your life. If you never asked God to take care of you, God in His mercy is more than able to take care of you. Let me give you a few examples:
Matthew 5:45 “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”.
Both the unjust and the birds of the air may not sit to ask God to take care of them, yet God does this in His merciful and loving nature. Prayer, therefore, has a greater purpose; one that is directly attached to His purpose that is revealed in His word for man. This is why the foundation of prayer is the word of God.
Why Pray According to God’s Word?
Prayer is aligning with the will and agenda of heaven. Prayer therefore needs to be backed by the word of God (the law of His kingdom). It is important that you are in line with the law of God, this is what governs your life. It is the only way you are guaranteed good success in all you do - (Joshua 1:8), even in the area of dominion. Your response to the word of God is to allow it to take root in you and transform you as you exercise His word. The medium through which you give God and His word access in your life is prayer. Praying outside of God’s word is you being misaligned and denying Him access, the results of this…nothing (James 4:3).
Praying according to God’s word is also a way for you to be reminded of who you are, a child of God and a citizen of His Kingdom. Sometimes you need that reminder, and those are the moments where you begin to declare the promises of God over your territories. As citizens and children we know the rights we have; the rights He has given us. Therefore when we pray in line with His word, it brings us back into focus. We are reminding Him that we know who we are in Him.
A heartfelt prayer in line with God’s word is an exercise of faith.
It takes faith to declare His word over your life. Your declaration of His word is an expression of your faith in Him. This is what the bible says pleases God…faith. Your faith in God expresses your acceptance of His word; and because you accept this word to be true, you are assured of it even when you may not see it. Your faith in God has the ability to change things around in your life. When you petition then, do so in faith! Faith stirs you up to keep praying on a matter that looks impossible. Your faith in God, and in His ability pleases Him.
Mark 5:34 - “...your faith has made you well…” that is the power of faith in God!
Prayer Highlights Your Need for God
If you cast your mind back to one of my previous posts, I mentioned that God has required that we walk humbly with Him. A sincere prayer highlights our need or dependence on God. Prayer therefore becomes an expression of a humble heart. In humility you seek God for answers, direction and for what you should do. Psalms 34:18 - The LORD is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed.
Prayer exercises your authority and position as a child of God
Matthew 18:18-20 - “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 9:38 - “therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.”
Notice something in these two scriptures…in order for certain things to be done on Earth, you must pray. It requires your input, because you are a child of God and you have received authority from the King. God can easily send out more labourers, why does Christ tell us to pray earnestly for this then? Genesis 1:26 “...let them have dominion…” God has given us dominion. Therefore, we are the ones who have the ability to determine certain matters on earth.
God says it this way:
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
‘If’ and ‘then’ highlights your role in prayer. God has given you the formula, prayer, intercession, enquiry, petitioning our King! Until you pray according to His word and in faith, there are situations that will simply not change. The onus then lies on you to give God access through prayer. That is the power of prayer.
I encourage you then, to shift your focus and start praying according to His word; what He has spoken! Start by aligning with His word in prayer and give Him access to fulfill His word in your life!
Represent Him Always.
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