1. Prayer is important because it’s a form of service.

Defined as the action of helping or doing work for someone, a system supplying a public need, or to
perform routine maintenance or repair work on.

That’s exactly why prayer is important!

We are interceding for others. It’s how we help someone else. Prayer can repair an emotional wound. At its
core, prayer is a system that can meet the public’s need.  And it’s the prescribed method for maintaining
our spiritual well-being.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more
important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the
interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job
had twofold (Job 42:10).

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44).  

2. Prayer is important because it’s an act of obedience.

We are called to pray.

God designed us for it.

It’s built into our very existence. Because we are created in His image, God’ image, we are to mimic Christ-
like behavior. Jesus prayed to remain in the Father’s will. So as Christ imitator’s prayer is necessary to
remain in His will also.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray (Mark 1:35).

My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you (John 17:1).

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, several
other women, and the brothers of Jesus (Acts 1:14).

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals
(including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word (Acts 6:4).

3. Prayer is important because it’s the solution.

Prayer is an avenue to resolution, the path to finding an answer to a problem. It provides insight to our
dilemmas and tough decisions.
 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come (Jeremiah 33:3).

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who
seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened (Luke 11:9-10).

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn
from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes
will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place (2 Chronicles 7:14).

4. Prayer is important because it’s communicating.

Since the beginning of time, God has been talking to us. We’re just not always in a place or state where we
can hear him.

Even Adam and Eve enjoyed chats with the Father in the garden before and after their sin.

It is and has always been His desire to share His thoughts with us, His promises, His guidance. If you desire
to communicate with our Lord, prayer is necessary.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).

“Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I
commanded you not to eat?” (Genesis 3:11). 

Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them (Exodus 25:8).

I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them (Exodus 29:46).

5. Prayer is important because it’s how we make requests.

God delights in us. He longs to bless us and shower His favor upon us. When our desires line up with His
desires for us, amazing things happen! 

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.
Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you (Matthew 6:6).

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning’s that cannot be expressed with words. And the Father who
knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with
God’s own will (Romans 8:26-27).

Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it (James 4:2).

6. Prayer is important because it’s how we promote the kingdom of God.

When we decide to be small so that He may be greater, God’s territory expands and the chances of others
being saved increases. Prayer is necessary for this to happen.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done,
not mine” (Luke 22:42).

“There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the
money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” At this the man’s face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions (Mark 10:21-22).

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and
follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will
save it (Luke 9:23-24).

7. Prayer is important because it’s how we become wiser.

The more you know—this isn’t just a line in a commercial. It’s a broader concept about spiritual living.

The more you know, the better prepared you are. The more you know, the more equipped you are to make
decisions. The more you know, the more qualified you are to explain.

The more you know, the more you can connect.  The more you know, the better you will discern. The more
you know, the more adept you are at defending the Gospel.

Prayer is necessary if you want to "know more."

Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between
right and wrong (1 Kings 3:9).

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and
understanding (Colossians 1:9).

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual
wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God (Ephesians 1:16-17).

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you (James 1:5).

8. Prayer is important because it’s how we gain power and confidence.

Doubt, chaos, and confusion are works of the enemy. He’ll do anything to cloud your judgment, clutter your
thoughts, and keep you guessing.

Prayer is necessary for building power and confidence.

You’ll find your heavenly Father standing on level ground. He does not waver. He does not change. He is the
same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You can bank on it.
 We now have this light shining our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars, containing this great
treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:7).

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is
the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s
right hand in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:19-20).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2Timothy 1:7).

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when
your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:3-4).

9. Prayer is important because it’s how we rebuke the devil.

The devil is relentless in his pursuit of you, so you must be relentless in rebuking him. Every day. Every
hour. Every minute if need be.

Be like the woman in War Room; stand at the door and declare, “You can’t have my marriage. You can’t have
my daughter. And you sure can’t have my man. This house is under new management, and that means you
are out!”

Maybe just a movie, but clear evidence that prayer is necessary.

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God
will come close to you (James 4:7).

We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense (2
Corinthians 6:7).

“Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap for me. You are seeing things merely from a human
point of view, not from God’s” (Matthew 16:23). 

Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve him
only’” (Matthew 4:10).

10. Prayer is important because it’s how we cast out demons in our lives.

Be careful what you allow in your life. Pay attention to the doors you open.

What seems like innocent fun could just be how the enemy slips in and creates a stronghold.

Ouija boards, palm reading, and tarot cards are far more dangerous than you may realize. Pray is necessary
if you're going to rid your life of these.

The enemy smells out the tender spots, the unhealed hurts, the unforgiveness, and uses these to tear us
apart. But you can take charge with prayer. 
 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every
disease and illness (Matthew 10:1).

Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: Go and announce to them that the kingdom of
Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:5-
8).

Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he
would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:14-15).

11. Prayer is important because it’s therapeutic.

When you feel like your world is spinning out of control. When storms hit. When you’re taken over by worry.
When sickness and fatigue strike. Let prayer be your stability, your calm, your tranquility.

You’ll find rest and recovery there.   

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and
waves, and suddenly there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26).

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up.
Shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown.” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind
and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm (Mark
4:38).  

“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over” (Mark 5:34).

“Don’t be afraid. Just have faith” (Mark 5:36).

12. Prayer is important because it’s evidence of a right relationship.

Thanksgiving. Praise. Worship. Prayer.

If these acts have a place in your daily life, then there’s a good chance you are in relationship with Jesus
Christ. And that, my friend, is the best place to be. Not to mention the safest!

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the
world through him (John 3:16-17).

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37).

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands
(Exodus 20:6).