Don’t Miss 6 Compelling Benefits of Prayer
“Prayer works.” Perhaps, we hear it. Maybe, we say it. Because prayer achieves many benefits in our lives. And it performs a mighty work in the heavenly realm.
Still, believing prayer works doesn’t equal practicing it. So we struggle in this area of the Christian walk.
God created us to engage with Him in conversation. But most of us have only learned the benefits of conversing on a regular basis with people. And we miss the compelling things prayer achieves.
In these current unprecedented days, I desire to spend more time with God in prayer—to anchor myself to Him. A desire I need every day.
So let’s unpack six compelling ways P-R-A-Y-E-R works as it achieves benefits for this life and the next.
Compelling Benefits to Prayer
P – Proclaims the Lord’s glory and praise.
Proclaiming the Lord’s glory and praise is not just for times of corporate worship. In fact, prayer is a form of individual worship. And it’s never all about us like a kid with a wish-list of wants and give-me’s.
Praising the Lord and glorifying His holy name is a great way to start prayer, to pray in-between petitions and intercessions, and to finish prayer.
“My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.” Psalm 71:8 (ESV)
Praising the Lord and glorifying His holy name is a great way to start prayer, to pray in-between petitions and intercessions, and to finish prayer. #Prayer Click To TweetR – Renews a right spirit in us.
In Psalm 51, David prayed to confess his sin with Bathsheba and ask the Lord for a clean heart, to restore the joy of his salvation, and to renew a right spirit in him.
And the Lord graciously answered by doing all this and more. God restored David spiritually and to his position.
Likewise, prayer spiritually restores our relationship with God (and others), and even our position when a right spirit’s renewed in us.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Benefits Prayer Achieves
A – Arms us for spiritual warfare.
The Bible makes it clear; we face an unseen enemy and the forces of darkness. While Ephesians 6:10-17 describes the armor of God and its importance in this battle, we often miss the final piece in verse 18. Prayer!
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
Y – Yields our hearts to God’s purposes.
I sometimes find it difficult to yield my plans and will to the Lord. But I’m learning God’s ways are best, He knows best, and all the best things come from Him.
Notice the verses preceding the one we often quote, Romans 8:28.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:26-28 (ESV, emphasis added)
Compelling Ways Prayer Works
E – Encourages an intimate relationship with God.
We build intimate relationships by spending time with people. So the same is true with God. When we are in God’s presence praying and listening to what He has to say to us, our intimacy with Him grows. And we know and understand Him better.
When we are in God’s presence praying and listening to what He has to say to us, our intimacy with Him grows. And we know and understand Him better. #Prayer Click To TweetAlthough we use this scripture below for salvation, and rightly so, it’s also a spiritual image of inviting the Lord into our lives over and over.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
R – Releases our burdens and control to God.
God didn’t create us to carry burdens or to allow us control. Since the Creator is CEO of the world and my life (because I belong to Him), I only mess things up and create more burdens for myself when I take over.
And the Lord has a strong shoulder for the burdens heaped upon us from others or due to cultural issues.
Prayer releases our burdens to God. The Lord has a strong shoulder for the burdens heaped upon us from others or due to cultural issues. #Prayer Click To Tweet“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Prayer Works
Which benefit to prayer is the most compelling to you or what would you add?
Read my post: 15 Scriptures to Pray Over Family and Ourselves
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Recharge Wednesday/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Candidly Christian and Faith On Fire.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
‘ ‘Growing our intimacy with God through prayer’ – however we pray, I feel, leads to a closer relationship with God. Loved how you unpack this with the acronym 🙂
Prayer does lead us to a deeper connection with our heavenly Father. Thank you, Sharon!
Amen. Prayer brings me comfort. Last night was rough as I am sick again with another sinus infection. I have the meds from doctor and are waiting for them to kick in. All during the night, as I couldn’t sleep, I prayed and asked for His comfort. God was with me. He guided me through and He is with me today. How wonderful to know we are loved by Him. 🙂
So sorry to hear you have another infection, Melissa. Praying the meds are finally helping you and you are on the mend. Yes, I heard a minister say once to never waste time we are awake during the night…the Lord might have us awake for a reason. 🙂
Prayer is the key that unlocks the door to a deeper relationship with God. And once we open that door, we unleash the power of God to step into our problems and change them. Nothing else in life holds this kind of power. Thanks for sharing the importance of this simple step.
Beautifully said, Yvonne. How mind-blowing to remember nothing else (no-thing) holds this kind of power like prayer! Thank you!
So many benefits, yet so many struggles to be consistent in the privilege of prayer. In my quest to take full advantage of this gift from God, I’m finding intimacy with Him, and releasing my burdens and control to Him are some of my sweetest blessings. Thanks for the encouraging post, Karen!
Carlie, it is a struggle to stay consistent because the enemy hates it when we are in God’s Word, presence, and prayer. He knows what advantages it has in our lives and he loses more battles. Praise Jesus!
I love that the first benefit you listed is not about us:
“Proclaims the Lord’s glory and praise.”
You start with the right perspective and everything else flows from that foundation!
So true, Ava. When we realize prayer’s purpose is not a wish list or a genie-in-a-bottle perspective, our hearts line up most with God’s heart.
All these aspects you’ve fleshed out here, Karen, are so valid to a productive and meaningful prayer life. I love the first benefit of giving God glory and praise, and the development of an intimate relationship with the One who cares so deeply for us. Thanks for stressing to all of us how crucial prayer is to our lives every day.
Blessings!
Martha, while I love everything prayer accomplishes, I also lean into the praise and glory to God and the intimate relationship with the Lord. So many times we have one without the other. We praise from a distance and not in our hearts or just at church…when the Lord wants it to rise up in us from the intimacy with Him He created us for all along!
Joining in the praises here! Prayer is a vital connection to God and certainly a privilege we enjoy, thanks be to Jesus! Great post, Karen. (Melissa, I pray you feel better soon!)
Thanks, Cathy! I like how you described it as a “vital connection to God.” When we think of prayer in the light of that high importance to our Christian walk and living, it drives home the point of prayer as a benefit all the more. God bless!
You captured so well this sensation that the pandemic has provoked in me: “ I sometimes find it difficult to yield my plans and will to the Lord. But I’m learning God’s ways are best, He knows best, and all the best things come from Him.“ this has been the challenge, to yield all the things that were broken and destroyed, all the relationships that are ended, all the lives ones we haven’t been able to see, and the continuing health issues that have multiplied. Yielding, yielding, yielding is so, so, so difficult. But Jesus and I are wrestling it out. He always wins.
I understand the struggle so well, Melinda. And, like you, I’m often wrestling it out with Jesus. So thankful we pray to a God who does immeasurably and abundantly more than we even imagine. When we keep that truth in mind and realize it’s going on behind the scenes for our good and His glory, it builds our faith for sure!
These are all wonderful benefits. What a privilege it is to pray, and what a great Father to pray to.
A privilege with great benefits, Barbara. I hope to never take it for granted.
This is so spot-on, Karen: “We build intimate relationships by spending time with people. So the same is true with God. When we are in God’s presence praying and listening to what He has to say to us, our intimacy with Him grows. And we know and understand Him better.” YES! Thank you for a great piece on the importance of prayer. Bless you!!!
Thank you, Jessica. I pray to keep opening the door to my heart to the Lord. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
I honestly believe I would be lost without my prayer life. Even if somedays it’s a series of short thoughts and requests in between the business of life, I still feel refreshed after spending time in God’s presence. It always leaves me wanting more.
J.D. I agree. And how you described it throughout the day is what I believe the Apostle Paul inspired by the Spirit meant when he said to pray without ceasing.
Thank you for that acronym. I love things like this because it helps me remember them. I will be writing this down in my prayer journal. God deserves our praise in prayer, and is faithful to give us His love abundantly.
Glad this encouraged you dear Carla.
P – Proclaims the Lord’s Glory and Praise
R – Renews a Right Spirit in Us
A – Arms Us for Spiritual Warfare
Y – Yields our Hearts to God’s Purposes
E – Encourages an Intimate Relationship with God
R – Releases Our Burdens and Control to God
I agree. Yes, we are to seek the Lord with petitions and requests in prayer. But for me, most important is to connect with Him, to bask in His presence. What an appropriate acronym.
Me too, June. The intimate connection with our heavenly Father in prayer and in His presence is unmatched in drawing us closer to Him.
This is a wonderful list, Karen. Each reason on its own is enough incentive to pray and together it’s clear we need to pray like we need to breathe
Valerie, love how you said, “we need to pray like we need to breathe.” That’s a good word. Because believing prayer works doesn’t equal practicing it. Thanks for your thoughts!
I have a sense that many believers are praying as we seldom or never have before. Thanks for a great post! God bless!
No doubt in these unprecedented days. Still, I hope this time is teaching me many spiritual lessons, especially the importance and benefits of prayer.
“Prayer works!” Amen. Karen, thank you for this prayer reminder and list.
Appreciate you commenting, Jed. I hope we never underestimate the power of prayer to change things and people…to change us!
Really encouraging article/sermon touched my soul. You do understand that GOD the Holy Spirit is living in your brain/soul/heart and that you are talking to yourself when you pray. HE then puts it in Holy Spirit mode and forwards it to the Son and the FATHER in words that carry the whole story, even the unspoken ones straight to the throne of GOD. Isn’t HE wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!? Praise HIS Holy Names. JESUS, sweet JESUS, please hurry back, this world is so frustrating. Fellowship is so rare.
Good insight, Jerry. Thankful the Holy Spirit utters those groanings to the Lord on our behalf. As I mentioned in the article, Romans 8:26-27.
Amen and Sing Glory Glory Hallelujah and Maranatha Praise Jesus-Yeshua Christ-Messiah!!
GOD SAID “Pray Without Ceasing.: ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV )!!
( I Thessalonians 5:17-18 KJV ) “Pray Without Ceasing. In every thing Give Thanks: for this is the Will of GOD in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua Concerning you.”!!
( Hebrews 13:18 KJV ) “Pray for us: for we Trust we have a Good Conscience, in all things Willing to Live Honestly.”!! TRUST in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua!!
GOD BLESS ALL my Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and my Messianic Jewish Sisters and Brothers in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua and my Devout Jewish Sisters and Brothers and Your Families and Friends!!
Our ONE True GOD’S LOVE 💕💜 is ETERNAL through HIS SON Jesus-Yeshua Christ for Today and Everyday Forevermore!!
I Love you all Everyone through Jesus-Yeshua Christ, because HE LOVED 💜💕 EVERYONE FIRST!!
Love 💕 Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
God Bless, Kristi Ann.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Karen, your statement that believing prayer works is not the same as practicing prayer resonated with me. Sometimes it is easier to complain than to pray.
Oh, so true, Debbie. It is easy to complain and to run to others first than to talk to the God of the universe.
Karen, I’ve found myself praying a lot more this year. I so appreciate your acronym. I especially resonated with what you said about Revelation 3:20 being a continual inviting of Jesus into our day-to-day lives. It’s so true. I loved every point you shared!
Thank you, Jeanne. When others don’t show up on my door step, Jesus does, He’s always the one standing there, wating to be invited in. God bless!
[…] Remember to pray prayers of exchange with God. In last week’s article, we discussed 6 Compelling Benefits of Prayer. […]
This post is a great reminder that we should be using our opportunities to pray, pray, pray! Thanks for sharing this at Grace & Truth linkup, Karen.
Thanks for your comment, Lisa. May we never underestimate the privilege and power of prayer!
Beautiful, Karen! So beautiful! Sometimes we grow weary in prayer, especially if we don’t see God answering our prayers. But here you remind us, prayer is so much more than “getting what we want”. He lifts us, cleanses us, renews us as we draw near to Him. I love how you say God is the CEO of our world and our life, so He can carry these burdens better than we ever could. Thank you for this refreshing reminder!
Prayer is more than a “genie in a bottle” formula. God help us if His children ever have or walk in that perspective. God is CEO and I never want to be in His seat or position. He knows best how to manage the universe and our lives!
Prayer definitely brings us closer to God. I love that intimacy. However, too many times, I try to cut it short, or I fail to have a two-way conversation. Maree
So many of us relate to bypassing the two-way communication. Thanks for your input!
[…] Don’t Miss 6 Compelling Benefits of Prayer, Karen Girl Friday […]