Day 3 - Felicity Jenkins | Kingdom Culture Church

POWER OF PRAYER: How and why should I pray?

Prayer has always been such a foundational pillar of our relationship with Jesus. However, it’s not always the easiest habit to form. I’m sure at some point you’ve asked yourself, “Why do I need to pray?” It’s okay to pray because you’ve been told you should and the Lord will still bless those prayers, but it’s important to understand the WHY behind prayer. Prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do as Christians. When we pray, we access a direct line to the King of all creation. We have the ability to see impact and change in our lives and the lives of others. We are able to make known our deepest desires and greatest fears to our Father in Heaven. The Lord is with us at all times through His Holy Spirit, but when we choose to pray, we choose to intentionally meet with Him. Our prayer time, regardless of the topic, is a choice to meet with the One who is already waiting for us.

The best example of a life led by prayer is of course, Jesus. Jesus prayed a lot. In the garden (Matthew 29:39), He shared His honest and anxious prayer about dying on the cross. He prayed for healing over those who came to Him (Mark 7:31-37); He even prayed blessing over His food (Matthew 26:26; 14:19). If Jesus felt the need to pray and give thanks or be vulnerable, then how much more do we need to do the same! This is how we should pray; not with fancy words that make us sound Holy (Matt. 6:5) or with a wish list of things we want (James 4:3). If you want to know how to start praying, my encouragement is simply this: start with something honest. More than anything, the Lord wants to hear what you have to say. He wants to hear about what’s making you anxious, what you’re excited about, how that person made you feel. He wants you to ask Him about what decisions you should make, and to say thank you for all the things you are blessed with.

As you begin your prayer life, let it be honest and simply talk to your Heavenly Father. Hebrews says “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace”. He has beautifully given us full permission to come to Him about everything, because nothing is too small or too silly for God to care about.