When it comes to prayer, most find IT to be a discipline in the Christian life that is exercised very little, and even when it is practiced it is often with brief requests in times of need. Jesus said, ‘’Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’’ (Matthew 7:7) Granted, we are encouraged in the Bible to “cast all our cares upon God,” but prayer opens more to us than a means to God’s provisions.

Prayer is first and foremost a time when a believer enters the very presence of God in humility, worship and adoration of Him. Prayer is a time to give personal thanksgiving to the Father for that His has done. Prayer is a time to confess our sins and seek His forgiveness and cleansing in our lives. Prayer is a time to seek the will of the Father, and to listen to Him as He speaks.

Prayer is a time to intercede for your family and friends. Do you have children or family members that are unsaved or away from God? Pray for them! Call their names out to God. Ask God to save them! Ask God to work in their hearts! That is intercession.

Alfred Lord Tennyson was right when he said, ‘’More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.’’ It is beyond our ability to actually measure the power of prayer. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20 that God ‘’is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think.’’ You can’t pray beyond God’s ability, but you will not see what God can do until you have prayed.

Prayer is an indispensable part of our Christian faith. It is crucial to our spiritual growth. You will not go deeper in your relationship with God apart from prayer. Prayer, like reading God’s Word, is an absolute necessity for our spiritual health and wellbeing.

The only time the disciples asked Jesus to teach them anything it was to pray. Today, we should ask the Lord to teach us to pray. Let’s get spiritually fit as we study Luke 11:1–13, ask the Lord to teach us to pray.