A Good Prayer Life

Pilots rely on specific instruments to navigate during their flight. One example is the GPS. With it, pilots can navigate toward their destination, flying blind without knowing their exact position or route. Another vital piece of equipment is their communications gear. It allows them to communicate with other nearby aircraft and the airport tower, which assists them in their take-offs and landings. Imagine if these essential tools were absent. It would render flying impossible or at least extremely hazardous. Such is the value of prayer when it comes to the life of a Christian and the reason it is imperative to have a good prayer life.

Father in heaven, open my eyes to the essence of prayer in my faith journey, and may I always be diligent in it. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The Importance of Prayer

Just as GPS and communication equipment are essential to a plane and its pilots, prayer is essential for a Christian’s life. So, we ought to maintain an effective prayer life, but what constitutes a good prayer life? A good prayer life is one where we pray to God consistently—with the correct theology of prayer and the right heart.

Why is prayer necessary? First of all, it is how we commune with God. What we have with God is not just a religious belief but a relationship. We are described as His children in Christ (Galatians 4:4-7). Just as in any relationship, communication is essential. God communicates to us through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:   That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.), the Scriptures, and we communicate with God through prayer. Imagine having a friend or spouse and not being able to talk to them. We cannot fathom how that kind of relationship would work.

Second, we ask God for guidance and wisdom in life through prayer. As we journey throughout life, we always aim to make wise choices and honor God with every step we take. We do that by always revering God (Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.), which causes us to cling to His Word and set it before us so that we may always walk in faithfulness. That is why His Word is a lamp to our feet in this life’s journey. The same goes for prayer. Whenever we make steps, choices, and decisions, we pray to God, asking Him for directions, clarity, wisdom, and guidance as we navigate through life (James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.).

 

 

Third, prayer is vital because we are to depend on God in everything. Romans 11:36 says that from God, through God, and to God are all things. He is the source, He is the means, and He is the end goal. It teaches us the sufficiency of God, Who is uncreated. However, we are created beings dependent on a self-sufficient God. That is why in John 1:4-5, it is written that Christ is life and the light of all men. That is why, as we depend on God for strength, provision, grace, etc., we do so by praying to Him (Philippians 4:6-7).

Three Simple Actions to Take to Develop a Good Prayer Life

Having a good prayer life involves developing good habits and discipline. For example, while we see how athletes train to be good at what they are doing, behind it are small, consistent habits and an attitude of discipline. The same concept applies to prayer. Here are three habits that you can develop:

1. Set a specific time and place to pray to God.

We see the example of it in the life of Christ. In Mark 1:35, we see Jesus rising early in the morning to pray to God in a lonely place. In Luke 6:12, He went to the mountains to pray. Besides Jesus setting apart a specific time for God and consecrating it for prayer, we also see He deliberately chose places where He could spend time and commune with the Father without distractions. So, set both a time and place to pray to God.

2. Be faithful in your prayer time.

Being faithful in one’s prayer time is a good example that we can emulate from the life of Daniel. In Daniel 6:10-16, we see Daniel thrown to the lions because he refused to obey the king’s decree to not pray to anyone but the king. Even before such a decree, Daniel had been praying to God three times a day. What can we learn from this? It is Daniel’s faithfulness. Even before the decree, Daniel was faithful in praying to God, and even with the decree, he continued to pray though it meant death.

3. Be accountable to your fellow men/women in the faith.

Being part of the church community means we do life together as believers. We grow together, serve God together, love one another, encourage one another, carry each other’s burdens, and even admonish or correct one another (Galatians 6:1; Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.). So, being accountable to other trusted believers as we develop a good prayer life could be a help to us—encourage us as we encounter challenges in developing a good prayer life (Proverbs 27:5-6) and correct us when we need it (1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.).

 

A good prayer life is essential for a healthy Christian life. In reality, there is no middle ground regarding our prayer life—either we are faithful to it or we aren’t. When the Bible commands us to pray to God, it does so for our benefit. So, even if you find it challenging to develop a good prayer life, ask God for grace and strength, for He does give grace to the humble (James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.).