The Necessity of Prayer

(Author: Ken Forrester)

If you are a student, you are in an incredible position to impact your world in a powerful way. Maybe you are wondering “How is that possible?” You, your family, your friends, and your world can be affected by simply praying every day.

I know that your days are busy. There is a lot of pressure on you.  You know, the tension with trying to make the grades, sports, home life, relationships, and trying to earn some spending money to name a few.  You could even be thinking, “I don’t have time to pray.” You are not alone.

Many people feel like there is not enough time in the day to stop and talk to God. But when we don’t take the time to spend time with Him every day in prayer, we miss hearing the most important voice. We need God’s wisdom and guidance to lead us in the most important and profitable ways. It seems to me that life with all its business is part of the enemy’s plan designed to keep us from spending time with the Creator of this amazing universe. If you are too busy to pray---you are too busy! It will cause you to get in on good things but miss out on the best the Father has planned for your life.

Sometimes I see this same thing happen in my own life with my family. As a pastor, there is so many who need me and are looking for direction in life. People have questions and difficulties and are not sure what to do. It can be overwhelming. Now don’t get me wrong—I love what I do and know that this is God’s call on my life. But it can take its toll on my family.

They know when I am becoming too busy and distant. I hear statements like, “Dad, where have you been? Why didn’t you eat supper with us? You said that you would play a game with me but you were not here.” Ouch! It is no secret when I become overwhelmed and distant with the family. The same is true with my walk with Christ. He knows that I have not talked with Him. He knows that I have not taken the time to just sit as His feet and hear His heart. He knows when I get so busy that I try to live in the power of the flesh instead of drawing on His supernatural strength and power. What I am trying to say is that prayer will keep you close. We all need that. The Word says, “For without Me you can do nothing.”

Our goal is life is not to be busy but to know His purpose for life. Staying close to God in prayer allows us to share with the Father our deepest feelings and the desires of our hearts. Hey don’t forget this---the Father created you, He truly loves you, He is committed on giving you the very best, and He has a most amazing purpose for your existence. It is only through a close and intimate relationship with Christ that this becomes a reality. This closeness does not mean that you will never have issues---life will always be full of challenges. What it does mean is that when tough times come you don’t have to go through the difficulties alone. He is there. The sovereign God of the universe desires to be close—close enough to lead and guide you through the difficulties. He will walk with you in the valleys. He will walk with you in the storm. He will give you His grace and will change the circumstance or even better—He will use the circumstance to change you! But none of this just happens—not without prayer!

When you find yourself “staying close and staying clean” (I heard a really awesome preacher say this—ha,ha) by finding yourself in the Word and talking to the Father, you will discover who He is and who you were created to be. You will begin to understand the Father’s purpose for the life He has given you.

So why not commit yourself to spending some quiet time before the Lord today? It will not be time wasted. It will be time well spent getting to know our awesome God. You will find that spending time in prayer will make you day better and you will find that you can handle the pressures of life much better when God leads the way. Prayer changes everything!