Prayer is a powerful tool that Christians have at their disposal. It is the act of communicating with God, expressing gratitude, making requests, and seeking guidance. The benefits of prayer are numerous, and it is a vital part of a healthy spiritual life. In this post, we will discuss two benefits of prayer.
i. The altar of prayer is the altar of Divine Intervention.
As stated in Hebrews 4:16, the altar of prayer is where we can come boldly to obtain mercy and find grace to help in times of need. This means that when we pray, we are inviting God to intervene in our lives. We are asking for His guidance, His protection, and His provision. We are acknowledging that we cannot do it on our own and that we need His help.
There are numerous examples in the Bible of God intervening in the lives of His people when they prayed. For example, in 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat was facing a massive army that was coming to attack him. He prayed to God for help, and God answered by sending His angels to defeat the enemy. In Acts 12, Peter was in prison, and the church was praying for his release. God answered their prayers by sending an angel to free Peter from his chains.
These examples show that when we pray, God hears us and is willing to intervene in our lives. We may not always get the answer we want, but we can be assured that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). The altar of prayer is the place where we can lay our burdens down and trust that God will intervene on our behalf.
ii. The altar of prayer is the altar of connection to Divine resources.
Prayer is not just about asking God for things; it is also about connecting with Him. When we pray, we are drawing near to God, and as we do, we are opening ourselves up to His divine resources. These resources include His wisdom, His power, His love, His peace, and His joy.
When we pray, we are tapping into the power of God. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened." This means that when we ask God for something, He will give it to us if it is in line with His will.
Prayer is also a way for us to connect with God's peace. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." When we pray, we can lay our anxieties and worries at God's feet and trust that He will give us His peace.
In addition to peace, prayer is a way for us to connect with God's joy. In John 15:11, Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." When we pray, we are inviting God's joy into our lives. We can experience His joy even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
To wrap up, prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. It is a way for us to connect with God, to invite Him to intervene in our lives, and to tap into His divine resources. The benefits of prayer are numerous, and it is something that we should make a priority in our daily lives.
