10 Reasons to Become a Person of Prayer

Becoming a person of prayer is a journey the Holy Spirit initiates and authors. It is a process the Holy Spirit works out in our hearts and lives as we ask, seek and apply. A person who says, "Of course I pray, I'm a Christian," and does not yet spend consistent with God seeking God's face is not really a person of prayer. A person of prayer is someone whose life is saturated with a desire to pray, so much so that prayer seeps into every aspect of their lives. They consistently meet with God each day to pursue God's face, are often passionate worshipers, and love to pray with others for Kingdom initiatives. Let us explore 10 reasons why anyone who follows Jesus should become a person of prayer.

When You Don't Feel Like Praying

Prayer is vital to the life of a follower of Jesus because prayer connects us with the Living God. Without prayer, it is like being a branch no longer connected to a tree. We lose our abiding with Jesus and our communications with the Holy Spirit are interrupted. We know these things. They are basic and central to prayer. But there are seasons in our lives when we do not feel like praying. Let us recognize some reasons why we do not feel like praying and reflect on possible responses.

Trading Your "Cows" for Kingdom Beans

If you are not familiar with the story of Jack and the Bean Stalk... Jack is a poor boy who lives with his widowed mother. They are farmers, who own very little. Their only valuable possession is their cow. Over time, their situation becomes very worse and worse, so the mother sends Jack to town to trade the cow for much needed money. On the way to town, a stranger approaches Jack and offers to trade some magic beans for the cow. Curious and trusting of the stranger, Jack agrees to the trade. 

Praying the Fruits of the Spirit

The fruits of the Spirit are an important outworking of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who follow Jesus. These fruits include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). For us to cultivate these fruits in our lives, we must take an active role with the Holy Spirit by means of prayer, intentionality and partnership (to name a few). If we are to follow Jesus, these nine fruits are essential indicators of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.