The Necessity of Prayer

How many times have you seen an article or heard a sermon about the power of prayer?  It's one of many common themes for Christian authors, pastors, and even musicians like to talk about regularly.  In every case, they try to give us insight into the idea that praying can solve anything, either by itself or as an addition to our own hard work.  It's true, prayer can be one of our greatest weapons in our battle against the devil, or our battles with ourselves.  We should never forget the power of prayer.

However, something that's far less often mentioned is the necessity of prayer.  Prayer is treated as a super-weapon to be brought out in times of great need, or as  a little extra something that we should be sure to do on a regular basis just because we're supposed to.  Neither of those views is 100% wrong, but they miss the big picture.

While we began to take a fresh look at our support raising a few weeks ago, I began to become more aware of the necessity of prayer.  Paul exhorts the Thessalonians (and us) to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17).  We should pray before, during, and after everything we undertake.  When we do not, we risk discouragement and failure.  When we do, we may also experience discouragement and failure.  The difference is that when we pray, we can take comfort in knowing that God has heard our requests, and will answer appropriately.  There is a great deal of comfort in knowing that whatever the outcome, from our perspective at least, God is continuing to work His will in every area of our lives.  Sometimes He grants our requests, sometimes He makes us wait, and sometimes we are denied our requests.  But when we place that decision thoroughly in God's hands, instead of trying to assume the responsibility for success or failure ourselves, we can recognize a great freedom to plunge in head-first, knowing that the outcome is not for us to determine, only our own efforts.  Pray, and then do everything you can, knowing that God will determine the future.  All we have to do is trust him.

Prayer is not the least we can do, the minimum requirement, the final desperate resort. Prayer is our best defense and our most powerful weapon. It should be the first and last thing we do, and unceasingly before and after.