The importance of prayer

Quintus Heine

Mark 14:32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.'

In Jesus’ last hours before his captivity, he went to pray. This should show us how important prayer is. It's not just a casual thing that Christians do when they go to church or they eat. This is the essence of practical Christianity.

Without prayer there is no power in our spiritual life. It is noteworthy that James gives so much attention to prayer in his letter where he emphasises practical Christianity. James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. The believer's prayer has no power in and of itself. It has power because it connects you with the heavenly powers of the Holy Spirit. True prayer connects us to God’s power. It has transforming power because it seeks its strength in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

When the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon was in his early twenties, he often filled churches with his preaching. He also trained many preachers. He said at some point: "I'd rather teach one man to pray than ten people to preach." According to his students, prayer was the one thing that was essential to him. Similarly, Andrew Murray once said: "People who teach the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution in the history of world evangelisation."

So many believers and churches can bear to a true renewal that coincided with a powerful prayer initiative. A church or individual's personal devotion begins with a dedicated prayer life.

This concludes the short series on prayer. This month's pieces were a short introduction to prayer. May the Holy Spirit guide each of you so that you have a wonderful relationship with God in prayer.

For those who want to read about my reflection on prayer can read my prayer blog:

http://www.communitas.co.za/blogs/gebed

Prayer: Lord, teach me to realise the power of prayer in my spiritual life. Amen