Devotional: The Importance of Prayer
Written by Major Paula Pyle
What is Prayer? It is communion with God or a conversational relationship with our Maker that can be made at any time or any place. It is a practice that should be made from the start of each day, and throughout every day, for the rest of our lives. True worship begins at the altar of our hearts as we come humbly before God in prayer. Luke 18:1 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." In this parable of the Persistent Widow, she was focused, persistent, determined, and – most of all – faithful in her intercession.
When we pray at our altars we:
1. Experience the Presence of God
Prayer is about being in the presence of the Almighty God. Don’t you feel good when you are in the presence of someone you love and trust? I am sure most of you do. But sometimes you have to draw a line when their principles don’t match up with the principles of God’s Word. In those cases, you have to dare to stand alone. We are reminded of the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6:6-11) when the three Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not bow down to any false gods, determined that the Only True and Living God would deliver them.
2. Experience Pardon and Cleansing from Sin
When we pray and cry out to God we can ask Him to touch us afresh and we are no longer condemned. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but shall have everlasting life." When God hasn’t answered one of your prayers and you’re struggling, consider whether or not something may be blocking His answer. Do you have enough faith to believe He will really answer? Have you confessed sin in your life? Have you forgiven everyone you need to forgive? While the battle against evil is ultimately God’s to fight, He wants you to participate by exercising your authority against the evil you face.
3. Experience Power for Daily Living
The gift of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with a power that they had never experienced before. Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you pray and intercede for others daily. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy our relationships with our families, friends, and others. We don’t know what a person is going through at home, work or school when we pray for them or give them just simply two words of encouragement. If someone comes to your mind, just pray. I encourage you to maintain your altars of prayer, and be that hope for someone in need of light.
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