benefits of prayer
1. Prayer enables you to set your mind on the things above.
Colossians 3:2 Says,
“Set your mind on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the earth.”
How could we fulfill God’s word in this verse except by prayer?
Prayer is the way to have our mind set on the things above. That’s because proper prayer elevates our mind from our earthly concerns to God’s heavenly interests.
“Set your mind on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the earth.”
How could we fulfill God’s word in this verse except by prayer?
Prayer is the way to have our mind set on the things above. That’s because proper prayer elevates our mind from our earthly concerns to God’s heavenly interests.
2. Prayer enables Christ to carry out His heavenly administration.
The Lord’s instruction in Matthew 6:9-13 is not just a prayer to recite, but a pattern of prayer that carries out God’s administration,
“Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven…”
When our minds are set on the things above, as we just mentioned, we’re able to respond to God’s heavenly interests and express them through our prayer.
During such times of prayer, we become a reflection of Christ’s ministry in the heavens (Rom. 8:34). What a benefit!
“Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven…”
When our minds are set on the things above, as we just mentioned, we’re able to respond to God’s heavenly interests and express them through our prayer.
During such times of prayer, we become a reflection of Christ’s ministry in the heavens (Rom. 8:34). What a benefit!
3. Prayer ushers you into the Holy of Holies to receive grace.
Another benefit of prayer is to touch the “throne of grace” to find grace for your timely help.
Hebrews 4:16 says,
“Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.”
What is grace? It is more than God’s unmerited favor.
Grace is “God in Christ as our supply and enjoyment, conveyed to us and realized through the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19)”—Phil. 4:23, note 1 in the Recovery Version.
When we pray, we enter into the Holy of Holies and touch the throne of grace to enjoy the hidden Christ in our spirit.
In fact, enjoying the flowing of God’s grace in our prayer is more important than having our prayers answered.
Hebrews 4:16 says,
“Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.”
What is grace? It is more than God’s unmerited favor.
Grace is “God in Christ as our supply and enjoyment, conveyed to us and realized through the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19)”—Phil. 4:23, note 1 in the Recovery Version.
When we pray, we enter into the Holy of Holies and touch the throne of grace to enjoy the hidden Christ in our spirit.
In fact, enjoying the flowing of God’s grace in our prayer is more important than having our prayers answered.
4. Prayer charges your “spiritual battery” to live the Christian life.
The Christian life is like a tool or toy with a battery. Without being regularly charged, our “spiritual battery” will lack the power needed to carry out its intended functions. Our prayer is our connection to the “charging station.”
When we pray, our “spiritual battery” is charged with the heavenly current. This heavenly current, this divine electricity, is the Triune God Himself as grace flowing from the throne—the “heavenly power plant”—into us.
Revelation 22:1 says,
“And He showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb…”
This divine, flowing river proceeding from God’s throne supplies the power to charge us whenever we pray.
When we pray, our “spiritual battery” is charged with the heavenly current. This heavenly current, this divine electricity, is the Triune God Himself as grace flowing from the throne—the “heavenly power plant”—into us.
Revelation 22:1 says,
“And He showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb…”
This divine, flowing river proceeding from God’s throne supplies the power to charge us whenever we pray.
5. Prayer brings you into fellowship with the Lord.
Prayer is the contact of our spirit with God’s spirit.
John 4:24 says,
“God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit…”
It’s by such God-contacting prayer that we enter into fellowship with the Lord and become conscious of the fact that we are really one spirit with Him and that He is actually one spirit with us (1 Cor. 6:17). This is also a tremendous benefit!
John 4:24 says,
“God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit…”
It’s by such God-contacting prayer that we enter into fellowship with the Lord and become conscious of the fact that we are really one spirit with Him and that He is actually one spirit with us (1 Cor. 6:17). This is also a tremendous benefit!
6. Prayer renews you for the new man.
Ephesians 4:23-24 says,
“And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man…”
This means that whenever we contact the Lord as the Spirit with our spirit through prayer, this spirit spreads into our mind for our renewing. In such a way we are being renewed for the new man.
This new man is Christ’s Body today and will become the New Jerusalem for eternity (Rev. 21:2). How wonderful that we can be renewed for the new man by our prayer. What a benefit!
“And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man…”
This means that whenever we contact the Lord as the Spirit with our spirit through prayer, this spirit spreads into our mind for our renewing. In such a way we are being renewed for the new man.
This new man is Christ’s Body today and will become the New Jerusalem for eternity (Rev. 21:2). How wonderful that we can be renewed for the new man by our prayer. What a benefit!
7. Prayer lets the peace of Christ arbitrate in your heart.
Colossians 3:16 says,
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”
But how? One of the greatest discoveries of my Christian life was learning how to receive God’s word in the Bible by means of prayer, that is, pray-reading it.
By pray-reading, you not only gain some mental understanding from the Bible, but you’re nourished with life element in God’s Word. God’s words become “spirit and life” to you (John 6:63).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”
But how? One of the greatest discoveries of my Christian life was learning how to receive God’s word in the Bible by means of prayer, that is, pray-reading it.
By pray-reading, you not only gain some mental understanding from the Bible, but you’re nourished with life element in God’s Word. God’s words become “spirit and life” to you (John 6:63).
8. Prayer allows the word of Christ to dwell in you richly.
Colossians 3:15 says,
“And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body, and be thankful.”
This kind of peace isn’t just freedom from worry, but the peace between different peoples. How can we, as believers, let the peace of Christ arbitrate in all our relationships with people, especially other believers that are different from us. It’s only by our prayer.
When we pray, Christ will become the real umpire, ruler, and decider in everything. The main “call” our “Umpire” makes is “you’re wrong! Repent. Confess and say you’re sorry.”
Such prayer preserves the peace in our marriage life, family life, Christian life and church life. This arbitrating peace is a great benefit of prayer!
“And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body, and be thankful.”
This kind of peace isn’t just freedom from worry, but the peace between different peoples. How can we, as believers, let the peace of Christ arbitrate in all our relationships with people, especially other believers that are different from us. It’s only by our prayer.
When we pray, Christ will become the real umpire, ruler, and decider in everything. The main “call” our “Umpire” makes is “you’re wrong! Repent. Confess and say you’re sorry.”
Such prayer preserves the peace in our marriage life, family life, Christian life and church life. This arbitrating peace is a great benefit of prayer!
Don’t just take my word for it. Try it!
See if you don’t say with the prophet Jeremiah, “Your word became to me the gladness and joy of my heart” (Jer. 15:16).
This is a most wonderful benefit of prayer!
This is a most wonderful benefit of prayer!
Still uneasy about your personal prayers, or would like others to come along side you and pray WITH you?
Join Pastor Paul and our Mission Partners in praying for, and with each other. Share your request or praise below, and Pastor Paul and our GSBC prayer warriors will lift up those prayers with you.
Prayer Request Form
Pastor Paul would be honored to pray for you or someone you know. Pastor Paul and our team pray for all the prayer requests we receive on a regular and continual basis.
