55% of Americans say that they pray at least once a day. Still, that means there are many people out there who don’t pray that much, if at all.
For the uninspired, prayer may seem like a little more than a rote exercise that we do just because it is expected of us. But there are actually good reasons to pray.
If you are hesitant about praying or not sure how to go about it, don’t worry. Continue reading and we will walk you through the importance of prayer and show you why you should give it a try.
1. Prayer Can Be Mentally Beneficial
Prayer can have similar effects on the body as other mindful activities such as meditation and yoga. This is because prayer can increase your gratitude and kindness to others. Plus, praying in groups can make you feel supported and help you support others.
One study in 2009 found that patients at a primary care office experienced lowered depression and anxiety symptoms after six weekly in-person Christian prayer sessions.
2. Prayer Helps Us Be Grateful
Many times, we pray to God just to thank Him for all the things that he has given us. When we look over all of the things that we are blessed with, it helps us to appreciate our lives more. We can be grateful for a lot, including our health, relationships, friends and families, communities, and so much more. Everything that we have ever received is a gift from God. Prayer allows us to thank God and show Him our appreciation. Bible schools can help individuals deepen their understanding and appreciation of the blessings they have received from God. Through studying the Bible and learning about its teachings, individuals can better understand the role that faith plays in their lives and the importance of being grateful for all of God’s gifts. Bible schools can provide a supportive environment for individuals to explore their faith and to grow in their relationship with God. In addition to teaching about gratitude, Bible schools can also help individuals develop other important qualities such as humility, kindness, and love. By embracing these qualities and deepening their faith, individuals can become more grateful and appreciative of all the blessings God has given them.
We can be grateful for a lot, including our health, our relationships, our friends and families, our communities, and so much more. Everything that we have ever received is a gift from God. Prayer allows us to thank God and show Him our appreciation.
3. We Pray So That We May Know Our Hearts More Fully
When we pray and really mean it and think about what we are saying, we can realize more about ourselves. As you recite the words of scripture, think about what you are actually saying and how that prayer relates to your life.
Many times there are troubles within our hearts and minds that we are not even aware of. Praying to God can give us a glimpse into our deeper psyche and help us deal with deeper issues and anxieties.
4. Pray Because God Chooses to Use Means
A lot of people who are reluctant to pray tend to not understand the importance of prayer. “If everything is predestined by God, then what is the point of praying?”, they may ask. The answer to this is that everything that God does has a purpose.
God makes it rain so that the trees and grass will grow. He gave us the sun so that he could light our Earth and give us heat and energy. And it is God who also decides to use us to help accomplish his purposes. And so our prayers may be those very means that he uses to help heal the sick that we pray for or maintain the peace in our local church.
5. When You Pray with Scripture, You Can Pray Confidently
If you are someone who believes in the bible, then it should go without saying that you believe the scriptures are a holy text. And if that is the case, then everything within scriptures is completely true. So you can pray knowing that what you are saying is right and true.
This is great because you can feel the positive effects of your praying more powerfully, and you can rest assured that what you are praying for is noble and pure. So if you pray with scripture, you do not need to worry that you are doing it wrong or saying or asking for things that you shouldn’t be asking for.
Not sure where to start? Check out these prayers!
6. Prayer Allows You to Speak to God Directly
If you are worried about who to turn to in a time of crisis, you can always pray. Although friends, family, and loved ones may not always be around to help us through tough times, we can pray to God whenever we feel like it.
This can provide great levels of comfort. Especially if we are praying about something that we do not feel comfortable sharing with others.
7. You Should Pray Because Jesus Prayed
As the son of God, Jesus is a person who we all should model ourselves after. Now, we can’t do everything Jesus did, such as cure blindness or turn water into wine. But there are many things that we can accomplish in his likeness. One of those is prayer.
In the bible, it says that Jesus prayed often. He would pray for guidance and go off in the morning to solitary places in order to do it. He would also pray in praise of God, the Father as well as for his disciples and all believers. He would also pray in times of anguish and pain.
Jesus understood that prayer has a lot of power and can not only help the soul of the person praying but could help the rest of the world as well.
8. We Pray So That We May Know God More Fully
When we pray, and thus speak, with God, we become more closely connected with Him. We should all strive to know God better. And what better way than to actually speak with Him?
Understanding the Importance of Prayer for Ourselves
Now we can see that there are many reasons which show the importance of prayer. With this new knowledge, you can now pray with more confidence and ease.
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