Why We Should Pray: Five Reasons to Prioritize Prayer

Last Updated: June 13, 2020

We hear about needing to make prayer a priority often as believers. But why should we care so much about pray in the first place? In this article, discover five reasons why we should prioritize prayer. And, if you want to know more about how to pray, check out this article.

1. God calling His house a house of prayer reveals prayer’s importance in the life of the believer (Isaiah 56:7).

The Lord could’ve called us a house of evangelism or service, or perhaps even a house of missions or salvation, yet He did not. He called us His house of prayer first and foremost because prayer must be a top priority in all we do for His Kingdom.

2. Each believer has a part to play both individually and in community.

If each individual pursues an intimate relationship with Christ, our small group meetings, prayer times and full church gatherings will flourish and be far more effective. If we come to a corporate gathering hoping to instantly connect with God without seeking Him in secret, it will be difficult for us to be in unity with God and others in the Body.

3. If individuals grow in unity with God personally (through an active relationship with Him), we will also grow in unity together as the Body of Christ.

I firmly believe this is a crucial requirement for us to be unified as a Body as Jesus prayed for us to be: “That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me” (John 17:21 AMPC).

4. All we do for God flows from the quality of relationship we cultivate with Him.

Our effectiveness as a Body in intercessory prayer, evangelism, discipleship and community outreach is directly affected by our prayer life with Jesus.

We must reach in to God to have something of eternal value to pour out to others.

5. The Word of God is our go-to for truly effective prayer.

His words are spirit and they are truly life-giving (John 6:63.) They never return void (Isaiah 55:11).

It’s important to rely on God’s Word and Spirit when it comes to prayer. How often do we not quite know how to pray for people or situations that arise? Praying from our own opinions, agendas or emotions won’t really get us anywhere. Instead we want to come to know God’s will, humbly admitting that we do not have the necessary wisdom or solution otherwise.

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Remember that His Spirit makes intercession for us, helping us pray when we do not know how (Romans 8:26-27). We also know that God’s ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are better (Isaiah 55:8-9). Because of this truth, we want to pray in agreement with His Word and nature. So like the disciples let’s cry out, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

In Summary

Knowing why we should pray helps us make our prayer lives a priority. With prayer in its proper place, our unity with others is strengthened in Christ, whether in our churches and communities.

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