“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. ” – Luke 18:1 NKJV
A young believer once asked his pastor, “If God already knows everything, why should I still pray?” The pastor smiled and replied, “Because prayer is not just about informing God, it’s about aligning yourself with His will and exercising your authority as His child.”
That simple exchange captures the essence of prayer. It is more than a ritual or spiritual duty; it is the believer’s lifeline, the channel of heaven’s power on earth, and the means by which we walk in intimacy with our Father.
From the beginning, Jesus made it clear: “men ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1). Paul echoed the same command in 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “pray without ceasing.” Prayer, then, is not an optional practice for the overly spiritual, but a daily necessity for every believer. To neglect prayer is to walk exposed; to embrace prayer is to live under the covering of God’s will.
Prayer is also the way we exercise our God-given authority. Jesus declared in Luke 10:19 that He has given us power over all the works of the enemy. Yet authority unspoken is like a sword never drawn. Just as a policeman must raise his voice or show his badge to enforce the law, so the believer must lift their voice in prayer to enforce heaven’s decrees on earth. Through prayer, we bind and loose (Matthew 18:18), resist the devil, and declare God’s purposes into being.
But prayer is not only about authority; it is also about partnership. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He said, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NKJV). Prayer is the bridge between God’s agenda in heaven and our reality on earth. Without prayer, the purposes of God may remain unmanifested, because God works through yielded vessels who partner with Him in faith.
At its core, prayer is communication and fellowship. Just as relationships wither without communication, so does our intimacy with God when we neglect prayer. Through prayer, we pour out our hearts, listen to His voice, and grow in fellowship with Him. Prayer is not merely asking, it is abiding.
So, why pray? Because prayer is both privilege and power. It is how we wield our authority, deepen our intimacy, and partner with God to see His will established. To neglect prayer is to neglect power, but to embrace prayer is to walk in victory and divine authority.
Bible Reading Plan: Song of Solomon 4–5; Galatians 2