If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

The Bible speaks of prayer often:

“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11).
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14).

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).

After this manner therefore pray ye…” (Matthew 6:9).

“Watch and Pray” (Matthew 26:41).

“Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (Luke 11:9).

“Men ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1).

“Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 14:12)

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“Pray with the spirit… pray with understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

“We pray always for you” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

“Brethren, Pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 4:3).

Prayer is an important work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:27;34)

If not for the example of Christ and the spirit alone, we are commanded to pray for several other reasons.

Prayer transforms us

When we kneel to God, bringing every worry, sickness, burden, and temptation, He shows us that he is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). The realization of His power enables us to trust Him, and this trust deepens our relationship with Him. Thus we are transformed. “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).

Prayer brings growth

John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” We abide in Christ by spending time with Him in prayer. As we said previously, our hearts are transformed when we go to prayer, our spirit grows, and we begin to bear fruit. (“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law,” Galatians 5:22-23).

Prayer Changes things

When we pursue the heart of God, we find that our circumstances can miraculously change. When Peter was imprisoned in Acts 12, the fellowship of believers prayed unceasingly for him. And an ANGEL SET HIM FREE! God heard the prayer of the church and dramatically altered Peter’s circumstance. But not only can prayer alter our circumstances, but even more often, it alters the state of our heart. Oswald Chambers once said, “It is not so much as prayer changes things, but prayer changes me and I change things” (from My Utmost For His Highest)

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