Prayer is communion with the living God. When Jesus stated that His house should be a "House of Prayer," He was affirming a very basic reality about our relationship with God. He was declaring that intimacy with the Father was the core of all our interaction with God. He was declaring that intimacy with the Father was the core of all our interaction with God and that prayer is our communication channel.
Why pray?
- Because it is right (Luke 18:1)
- Because it is commanded (I Thessalonians 5:17)
- Because it is sinful to neglect it (I Samuel 12:23)
- Because neglect of it grieves God (Isaiah 43:21-22; 64:6-7)
- Because it is the medium through which God bestows blessing (Matthew 7:11; Daniel 9:3)
- Because it is essential to victory over the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12-18)
- Because of the obligation imposed by Christ's example (Hebrews 5:7; Mark 1:35)
- Because of the emphasis given to it in the early church (Acts 6:4;12:5; Romans 1:9-10; Colossians 1:9)
With such importance upon prayer in God's Word, it should come as no surprise that the Father proclaims that prayer will be the priority activity of His church: "For my house will be called a house of prayer" (Isaiah 56:7).
When followers of Jesus Christ are taught why prayer is necessary, how to pray and begin to experience oneness with God that only comes through prayer, they will be excited about and motivated to pray. As prayers are answered and God's power displayed, faith will increase. Prayer ministry will not be a program the church offers, rather the whole congregation will be involved in a lifestyle of drawing near to God.
