DAY 2: THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER

How many times, when faced with a difficult situation, do we manipulate, plan, scheme, dream, and yet do not pray? Sometimes we’d almost rather do anything than pray. Why pray when we can worry about it? Why pray when we can try to figure it out ourselves?

We must change our way of thinking about prayer to realize that it is not an obligation; it is an opportunity. Prayer is not just a requirement; it is also a privilege and an invitation to experience the power of God. Prayer is spiritual breathing—our normal and natural experience in Christ.

The word pray that Jesus uses throughout the New Testament is the most simple and basic of all the words for prayer, and it means to “wish forward” or “to desire onward.” God wants to hear the desires of our hearts. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” God wants to hear what’s on your heart! He wants to hear your desires and your dreams. He wants to hear about your failures as well as your successes.

Prayer is necessary because we need God. Situations will arise in this life that are humanly impossible to overcome. In those times we need wisdom, guidance, and direction from God. On a daily basis we need insight from God’s Holy Spirit to discern His will and understand His Word. We need hope in dark times, strength in trials, and hope for eternity. Truly it is impossible to succeed in the Christian life apart from prayer.

I love the words of the old hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The first stanza explains perfectly why prayer is a necessity in the life of the believer:

Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

You can pray anywhere, anytime about anything. Tell God about your needs. Pray for your family and your friends. Pray when you are in pain and when you’re living in victory. Pray about your finances and your future. Beginning today, make prayer a nonnegotiable, necessary part of your day.