Prayer is one of the most important ways that believers communicate with God. Through prayer, we can praise God, thank Him for His blessings, ask for forgiveness, intercede for others, and make our requests known. The Bible has a great deal to say about how prayer enables us to connect with our heavenly Father.
At its most basic level, prayer is simply talking to God. He invites us to come boldly before His throne of grace to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Praying allows us to develop a close, intimate relationship with the Lord as we spend time speaking with Him each day. Just as we talk to our close friends regularly to nurture our relationship, God desires for us to speak with Him often so our bond with Him will grow.
The Bible makes it clear that God hears and answers prayer. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” God may not always answer in the precise time and way we desire, but we can be confident that He listens carefully to our prayers and responds according to His perfect will and timing.
An important key to effective prayer is having the right motivation. Jesus warned against those who “love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others” (Matthew 6:5). Our prayers should flow from a humble and sincere heart, not from a desire to impress others or draw attention to ourselves. God sees our hearts, and He is pleased when we approach Him with humility, sincerity, and reverence.
It’s also vital that we pray according to God’s will, not simply seeking to gratify our own desires. As 1 John 5:14 says, when we ask anything “according to His will,” He hears us. That means submitting our requests to what He desires rather than insisting on our own preferred outcomes. Of course, we will not always know God’s will ahead of time. In those cases, we can ask Him to guide our prayers and trust that He will respond in line with His perfect purposes.
Jesus provided a model for how we should pray in the Lord’s Prayer, recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. This prayer begins with worship and praise of God. It asks for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth. Then it turns to petitioning God for daily bread or provision, followed by a request for forgiveness of sins and deliverance from temptation. This comprehensive prayer touches on all the key elements that should be part of our communion with God.
While some people prefer written prayers, prayer does not have to follow any formula. The Bible contains many examples of people praying spontaneously from their hearts. At times, written prayers can become routine. But by praying extemporaneously about specific needs and concerns, we can maintain a vibrant prayer life that intimately connects us to God. Whether written or spontaneous, sincerity and focus are what matter most.
Prayer is not a one-way conversation. An important part of prayer is listening to God and allowing Him to speak to our hearts. After presenting our petitions and requests, we should take time to listen quietly, waiting for impressions, guidance, or direction from the Holy Spirit. Listening is as integral to prayer as speaking.
God calls us to pray with persistence and importunity. Jesus told a parable about a widow who continually went to a judge seeking justice, saying “Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me'” (Luke 18:5). Christ concluded by saying, “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him?” (Luke 18:7). God honors persistent, believing prayer that does not lose heart but keeps pressing into Him.
Prayer is most effective when offered with faith, from a righteous heart, and in alignment with God’s will. The prayers of righteous people accomplish much, James says: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Our righteousness comes from Christ, not our own effort. But living in obedience purifies our hearts and allows our prayers to be more fruitful.
God also responds powerfully to prayers offered in faith, believing we will receive what we request. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23). Praying in unwavering faith is a key to seeing breakthroughs.
In addition to personal prayer, God also commands His people to join together in corporate prayer. Acts 2:42 says the first church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Believers’ unity in prayer produces tremendous spiritual power. Jesus said, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
Prayer is not just an earthly exercise; it is a divine connection that allows us to participate in the supernatural work of God on earth. Daniel experienced the power of intercessory prayer when he began to fast and pray for Jerusalem for 21 days. In response, God sent the angel Gabriel, who said, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words” (Daniel 10:12). Our prayers release God’s power!
Prayer is also one of the primary tools God uses to shape and transform us. Paul wrote, “We all…beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). As we meet with God face to face in prayer, He changes us to become more like Christ.
While prayer is simple, it is also a mystery in that we do not fully understand how an infinite, all-powerful God interacts with finite man through prayer. We cannot comprehend God’s sovereignty and omniscience along with human free will. Yet the Bible clearly presents prayer as a divine partnership in which our requests influence God’s actions on earth. He has sovereignly ordained prayer as a means of accomplishing His will.
Jesus gave a parable about a friend coming at midnight requesting bread from a neighbor (Luke 11:5-10). Although the friend was initially reluctant, he finally gave the bread because of the man’s persistent petitioning. Jesus concluded, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). Clearly, God chooses to respond to the earnest entreaties of His people.
Of course, God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He could accomplish anything He desires whether we pray or not. But Scripture is filled with examples of God choosing to act in response to prayer. James wrote, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). God has ordained prayer to be a catalyst that unleashes His power in partnership with His people.
Although God knows all things, when He gave mankind free will, He chose to limit His foreknowledge of certain human decisions. This allows our prayers to interact with God’s open hands to change what He foreknows and thus shape circumstances on earth. God welcomes this divine partnership through which He allows our prayers to influence His actions.
Prayer demonstrates our complete dependence on God. He desires for us to acknowledge Him in everything we do, including petitioning Him continually through prayer. Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple (Luke 18:9-14). While the proud Pharisee boasted of his own righteousness, the humble tax collector pleaded, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Jesus said this man “went down to his house justified” (Luke 18:14). Prayer should be marked by humility and utter dependence on God.
One of the greatest benefits of prayer is that it ushers us into God’s presence. The psalmist said, “Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!” (Psalm 65:4). Through Christ, we can boldly approach God’s throne and enjoy intimate fellowship with Him through prayer (Hebrews 10:19-22). There is no greater privilege than communicating directly with the Creator and Lord of the universe!
While prayer clearly has tangible benefits on earth, its greatest rewards are often experienced supernaturally. When we pray, we grow closer in union with Christ (John 15:7), gain access to supernatural peace (Philippians 4:6-7), obtain grace and mercy in times of need (Hebrews 4:16), and pick up spiritual weapons to overcome evil (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer is primarily a spiritual activity with powerful eternal impact.
God encourages His people to bring all their cares, desires and requests to Him in prayer. I Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Ephesians 6:18 instructs believers to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” God invites us to pray continually about anything and everything on our hearts.
Both individual and corporate prayer are key pillars of the Christian life. Believers should cultivate a personal prayer life that spurs intimacy with God. At the same time, God’s people should join together regularly for prayer, which releases unique spiritual power and blessings. A dynamic prayer life is vital for every follower of Christ.
The Bible contains many rich promises regarding the benefits and power of prayer. Here are just a few examples:
- “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
- “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)
- “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me.” (Psalm 17:6)
- “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
- “If two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
God desires His people to live dynamic prayer lives that produce spiritual fruit. As we commune with Him continually, pray according to His will, exercise childlike faith, and believe for breakthroughs, He promised to respond and work powerfully on our behalf. A vibrant prayer life allows us to align ourselves with God’s purposes and opens channels for Him to work both in us and through us. Prayer is truly one of the believer’s highest privileges, enabling us to partner with the Almighty God in bringing His light and glory to our world.