Prayer has been considered one of life’s greatest mysteries, yet seems to appeal to over 85% of the population. Surveys show that most people today both believe in and participate in some form of prayer.  For myself, I dedicate a good chunk of time every morning to prayer as I have learned it is a critical piece to my life.  Recently, I was reading through a great book by my pastor, Frank Damazio and came across this great list of reasons to pray. It revived my passion and commitment to prayer and thought I would pass it on to you as well. I hope it inspires you to pray more. These twelve principles have been taken from his book, Seasons of Intercession.

1.   Christ left us an example of the importance of prayer.

      (See Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; 3:21, 5:16, 9:18) 

2.   The Apostles left us an example of the importance of prayer.

      (See Acts 1:14, 4:31, 6:4, 12:5, 13:3, 16:3, 21:5)

3.   Prayer is God’s method for obtaining joy.

      (See John 16:24; Acts 16:25)

4.   Prayer keeps us spiritually fit and alert.

      (See Matthew 26:41; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Peter 4:7; Jude 20)

5.   Prayer enables us to receive wisdom and the mind of God.

      (See James 1:5; Acts 1:24, 10:9, 13:3, 14:23; Luke 6:12-13)

6.   Prayer transforms us into the image of Christ.

      (See Luke 9:28-29)

7.   Prayer is God’s means of obtaining our material and spiritual desires.

      (See Matthew 7:7-8; John 14:13-14, 15:7, 16:23-24)

8.   Prayer moves the hand of God to work in the affairs of men.

      (See Exodus 3:7, 14:10-11, 10:15; Jonah 2:1; Acts 12:5; James 5:17)

9.   Prayer expresses our dependence upon God.

      (See John 15:5; Zechariah 4:6)

10.  Through prayer we gain freedom from worry.

      (See Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 22:1-5)

 11.  Prayer unleashes the power and blessing of God.

      (See 2 Chronicles 6-7; Acts 1-2, 4:23-31)

12.  Prayer teaches us to know Christ intimately.

      (See Jude 20-21; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:9)