Prayer is to be a part of our daily lives (Luke 18:1; 2 Thess. 5:17). Why is daily prayer so important?

1. Prayer allows us to communicate with God daily. We communicate regularly with those who are important in our lives. God cares about us and wants to be a Father to us. He wants us to cast our burdens on Him (1 Pet. 5:7). We do this through prayer.

Communication can’t take place until you have the other person’s attention. You can talk to them, but communication isn’t taking place unless they are receiving your message. We always have God’s attention: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers…” (1 Pet. 3:12). In prayer, we are taking time to focus our eyes and ears on God.

2. Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God. In Matthew 6:8, Jesus tells us that God already knows our needs before we ask Him. If that’s the case, why do we need to ask God for these things? The asking is for our benefit. It reminds us that we are completely dependent on God to give us everything we need. This fact is stressed throughout our Lord’s model prayer (Matt. 6:9-13). We pray to “our Father in heaven,” where He is reigning on His throne. God has a “will” for our lives that must be “done on earth as it is in heaven.” God is the One who will “give us this day our daily bread,” “forgive” our sins, and “deliver us from the evil one.” Prayer puts everything in perspective and reminds us of who we are and who God is.

3. Prayer helps strengthen our faith. Praying is an exercise of faith. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting…” (James 1:6). We do not see God, yet we pray to Him believing that He exists, that He hears us, and that He answers our prayers. As we see our prayers being answered, our belief in God is validated and our faith is made stronger.