Why Prayer is important for Christians?
Prayer is important for Christians because it is an important form of communication with God, enabling believers to express their thoughts and feelings, ask for guidance, and build a closer relationship with him. Through prayer, people open their hearts to God and allow Him to work in them. It also provides a way to receive answers in various forms, including thoughts, feelings, and sometimes even through the actions of others.
1. Communication with God: Prayer is the most important form of communication between Christians and God. It enables believers to express their gratitude, share their worries, confess their sins, and ask for wisdom and guidance.
2. Strengthening the relationship: Regular prayer fosters a deeper relationship with God. It helps Christians to understand His will and character better, and promotes intimacy and trust.
3. Spiritual growth: Prayer helps believers to grow in their faith. It provides an opportunity for self-reflection and helps individuals align their lives with God's teachings.
4. Seeking Guidance: Prayer is a way for Christians to seek discernment and direction in their lives, especially when faced with difficult decisions or challenges.
5. Emotional Support: Prayer can provide comfort and peace during times of stress, grief, or uncertainty. It offers a space to lay burdens down and experience emotional healing.
6. Community: Group prayer, whether in church or small gatherings, strengthens the bonds among believers. It fosters a sense of belonging and support within the Christian community.
7. Intercession: Christians often pray for others, bringing their needs before God. This act of intercession fosters empathy and compassion, encouraging a selfless attitude.
8. Thankfulness and Praise: Prayer is a means for Christians to acknowledge God’s blessings, express gratitude, and worship Him, which cultivates an attitude of thankfulness in daily life.
9. Discipline and Routine: Establishing a prayer routine can instill discipline in a believer’s life, prompting them to set aside time to connect with God amidst daily distractions.
10. Transformation: Through a consistent prayer life, Christians often experience transformation in their thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, reflecting the love and grace of Christ in their lives.
In summary, prayer is integral to a Christian's daily life, helping believers navigate their spiritual journey, maintain a relationship with God, and engage meaningfully with others.
Believe
Believe is to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so. Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully. In verse versa, according to the Bible, trusting and believing in ourselves is not the ultimate key. Jesus said, Trust in me. Why? Because we are not trustworthy, we are changing from time to time. We cannot keep our word. We are not perfect. The Lord knows our weakness, and due to this reason, He asks us to trust him and seek his face and guidance. Are we willing to give up our own ways and surrender to Him?
The New Testament Greek word pisteuo (to believe) means "to “be convinced of something",” "to have confidence" ” or "to “entrust oneself to Christ (especially his spiritual welfare)” The word “believe” is a key term throughout the New Testament and occurs almost 250 times. In our English translations of the Bible, the word "believe" occurs numerous times. In the Gospel of John, it occurs more than 90 times. In the Acts of the Apostles it occurs around 40 times.
For example, when the religious leaders arrested Peter and John for their preaching, the scripture says that many who heard their message believed (Acts 4:4).
In another account, the Ethiopian eunuch said to Philip: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).
But what exactly does the word believe mean? Our modern concept of faith can lead to confusion. For some, believing means nothing more than a mere hope or speculation. “I believe I can be there at five o’clock” For others, believing is an intellectual assent to a set of facts. “I believe what he says. He never lies to me.”
Whoever loves the Lord Jesus must hate evil, the drug or any form of evil that is against the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ there is no temporary sinful life. Stay away from drugs, smoking and anything that harms the body of Christ. Be holy, just as I am HOLY. So when Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter was speechless, later he said, "Lord, you know. If Jesus were to ask you today, what would you answer?
Pressure is a key to changing our lives. Sometimes different kinds of pressure come into our lives indicating that we're active in sinful or bad things. When we say this, it doesn't mean that we're far from something we're doing. It's very important that we pay attention to what we're doing because it can cause us to fall into bad or evil things. Doing a service or a work isn't serving the Lord Almighty. Anyone can do that, maybe Hindus, Muslims or any other religion that can do good things to impress the public. But it's impossible to deceive the Almighty God who sees everything, whether it's the public or a private person. Therefore, we must be careful when we look at Him more than others. As in the story of Joseph, his eyes are fixed on Almighty God. Joseph’s response to Potiphar’s wife is as powerful today as it was then:
Q. “How then can I do this great injustice and sin against God?”
After this experience, Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Yet the Lord continued to bless him because of his righteousness.
Did you see that Joseph's life was pre-planned by God to reach the highest goal? God put pressure on him so that he wouldn't stay in prison for long.
Why do many people not want to get up from sinful things?
1. Because they want to stays in that sinful peaceful life.
2. Because they don't have the ability. Yes we don't have at all to overcome evil. God has the power to do so, why not sticking with HIM.
3. Because they don't have pressure or don't like pressure? Most of pressure lead to life changes.
4. Many leads to bad things, it's our choice to go forward or backward, like the prodigal son in the Bible who realised he was hopeless and wicked and saw no way out. Finally move to his father's house. His father change him. He didn't change himself. Did you notice that?
"One Heart & Soul"
Luke says that thousands of people are of "one heart and soul." They join together in purpose, thought, and action. The Holy Spirit is in them and guiding them as a group. Their commitment to the Holy Spirit's leading is so strong, that they even combine their possessions. Unless you are moved and led by the Holy Spirit, unity in Christ is difficult. We can try and do according to the flesh and the power of this world. But it may not last for long. The desire that's within us comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, which will bind us together toward Christ Jesus. The spirits that are in us are not different from Jesus, which is why they can draw us together. If you have the spirit of diversity, separation, and discrimination, it is not from the Lord. Ask the Lord if you don't have such a spirit.
Think & Talk
Many of us just talk without reasoning. It is easy to say, "I am sorry," but the words we already utter have hurt or made someone happy. Therefore, it is good to reason and speak. There are two ways to interpret the term "know" in this context. One is the idea of information and awareness; the other is experience. Both apply to the words that naturally come from those who are spiritually wise and those who are foolish. Wise people know the correct things to say (Proverbs 10:13) and when it's best not to speak at all (Proverbs 10:19). Wicked people are inclined to say hateful or inflammatory things (Proverbs 10:18), knowing full well they're being unreasonable (Proverbs 10:23).
According to some philosophers,
We fail to say the right words because we choose to say the wrong ones! We choose to say the wrong words because we fail to think about the right ones! Therefore, it is good to 'think first and then choose or talk' no matter how hot your anger or quarrel you may face. These little words will nourish or kill someone's heart. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). The verse instructs us to put all our trust in the Lord and not our own knowledge. The verse tells us not to be reliant on our strength and knowledge but to trust in the Lord.
