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Benefits of Prayer

 When someone says they are not as spiritually strong as they used to be, one of the spiritual checkpoints that should be examined is their prayer life. Prayer is a blessed avenue we have for direct communication with God our heavenly Father. If we neglect this great blessing we have, we will grow weaker spiritually.

Our counter measure is to pray often. One way that we stay motivated to pray is by understanding the great benefits of prayer. In this article, we will consider a couple of benefits we enjoy when we bow before the Almighty.

Relieves anxiety.  The apostle Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Philippians 4:6).  Within this context, we observe two key methods that prayer aids us in overcoming anxiety. First, is by bringing our request before God. Through faith we know that when we give our troubles over to God, that He handles them in ways that we stagger the imagination. Having this simple trusting faith in Him greatly relieve our heart of anxiety.

Second, is through thankfulness. It is impossible to be anxious and thankful simultaneously. When we are thankful before God, we are reminded of all the blessings He has given us and all the obstacles that He has previously brought us through. Anxiety does not have a foothold within a thankful heart.

Reminds us of God’s great care.  The apostle Peter wrote, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).  It is a great comfort to know that we can come before God any time day or night, and He is there for us. He hears our prayers and cares about the struggles that we go through.

Luke records the parable of the Persistent Widow. He began by writing, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Within the parable we see the unjust judge who refused to get justice for the widow. He relented upon the acknowledgement that she might weary him.

The lesson is that God is never wearied by the turmoil that we go through. He is always willing to render aid unto us. Jesus stated, “And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” (vs. 7)

These are only a few of the many great benefits we enjoy when we bring our cares before our loving heavenly Father. The next time you think you do not have time to pray, remember the words of the song we sing, “O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

God Bless each of you,

Eric Hicks

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