COMMANDED TO PRAY

God commands us to pray. Do you enjoy being commanded to do things? I usually don’t, but it can be easier to obey a command if we know there will be benefits for us. We follow orders at our jobs because it will help us keep our job which is how we make money in order to purchase necessities to live. But sometimes, following the command to pray can feel empty and purposeless. This is especially true when praying the same requests over, and over, and over. But these commands can give us assurance that God doesn’t command us to do things on a whim or because he is a tyrant. Prayer has a purpose and God blesses us through prayer. So what are some of these blessings and benefits?

In Philippians 4:6-7 it’s easy to see the blessings of prayer: “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.” If you’re anxious, pray and peace will come into your minds and hearts. How wonderful! Of course, sometimes peace takes much longer to come than we would like, but God is faithful to help us.

The blessings of prayer are also rather clear in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Want to live a peaceful life? Pray. There still might be evil kings in control, but God is sovereign and good and uses our prayers as part of His master plan.

Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” This verse is in the middle of a list of actions Christians should be doing. I love the way this verse is structured in English because these three commands are intertwined. To rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation requires constant prayer and in turn, praying blesses us with hope, joy, and patience during hard times.

Prayer is also a weapon in the spiritual war we are battling. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul completes the armor of God description by commanding us to be, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints”. In this passage, it’s wonderful to see perseverance and alertness paired with making supplications. Prayer helps us remain steadfast and a good way to be watchful is to pray.

Paul also mentions prayer in his closing points of encouragement in two different letters. In Colossians 4:2, he commands the believers to be steadfast in prayer and watchful in it with thanksgiving. He also asks them to continue praying that Paul’s ministry would further the gospel even more. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul strings rejoicing, praying and giving thanks together as a way to fulfill the will of God. Both of these commands touch on the idea that prayer helps us follow the will of God. Not sure what the will of God is? Well, part of the will of God for your life is that you would pray.

The command to pray is not mysterious or empty. It is meaningful and provides. Yes, it does help us communicate with God and deepen our relationship with Him, but it also gives amazing blessings! It gives us peace instead of anxiety, a way to live a godly and dignified life, the ability to rejoice and be patient in tribulations, a weapon in the spiritual battle, and some fulfillment of God’s will for our lives. Following God’s command is well worth our time.

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