The Priority Of Prayer
The Priority of Prayer
Bro Brendan Leow | 17 August 2025 | Matthew 6 : 9 – 10
Jesus, in teaching His disciples, said: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9–10 NKJV).
Prayer is such a common topic, and yet one we often overlook or take lightly. At its heart, prayer is not just a religious habit but a deep expression of faith—a way to lay our requests before the Almighty God who truly listens. Paul reminds us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6).
Prayer may seem like a simple concept, but in reality, it is one of the greatest privileges of the Christian life, because it connects us directly to our Father in heaven.
The first key point is that the emphasis that prayer must flow from true internal righteousness rather than mere outward display. Jesus warned against praying like the Pharisees, who loved to stand in public places and be seen by men (Matthew 6:5–7). Their prayers were not about God but about appearances. Appearing righteous but they were prideful and compromised God’s commandments.
Prayer is not about impressing others with bombastic words; it is about being honest before God in secret. As Jesus taught, it is our Father who sees in secret that rewards us openly. What matters is sincerity, not spectacle. Prayer is meant to pour out what is truly in our hearts, not to put on a show.
On the question of whether it is good to show an example by praying in public—the truth is, prayer is never about how people see us, but about how God sees us. What truly matters is not the impression we make on others, but the sincerity of our hearts before Him.
In daily life, when someone asks, “How are you?” most of us tend to reply lightly, “All good,” without really opening up. But prayer is different. It is the space where we can pour out everything honestly before God in private—not with polished words or appearances, but with sincerity, trust, and openness of heart.
Why is prayer important?
Prayer builds and deepens our relationship with God. Scripture affirms that the Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth (Psalm 145:18). Jeremiah says, “You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you… when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12–13).
Prayer is unlimited; there is no such thing as praying too much, for God never tires of hearing from His children. Through prayer, we experience the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6–7). We are also reminded that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). In prayer, our focus shifts—not to our own greatness—but to God’s immeasurable power and unfailing love.
Paul used two adverbs—“exceedingly abundantly”—because no single word was enough to capture the greatness of God’s response to prayer. He was straining language to show that God’s ability goes beyond measure, beyond description, and beyond imagination. His words remind us that what God can do is not just more than we ask, but infinitely more than we can even conceive. When our problems seem too big, we must remember to bring them before God, for He is bigger than all our problems.
Prayer requires faith and trust in God’s will. James 1:6–7 reminds us to ask in faith, without doubting. Faith in prayer is not like making a wish; it is trusting God to act in His perfect way and time. Jesus Himself taught us to pray, “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10), showing that prayer is never about bending God to our desires, but about aligning our hearts to His purposes.
Examples in Scripture show us the power of such prayer. David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29 acknowledged God’s greatness, humbled himself, and sought faithfulness for the people and for his son Solomon. Moses pleaded with God to spare Israel after the golden calf incident, and God relented (Exodus 32:11–14). Hezekiah prayed earnestly, and God extended his life by fifteen years (Isaiah 38:1–5). Elijah prayed for no rain, and for three and a half years the heavens were shut; when he prayed again, the rain returned (James 5:16–18). These accounts remind us that prayer, offered in humility and faith, can move the hand of God.
The priority of prayer is to glorify God and submit to His will. A simple way to remember this is through the JOY method: Jesus first, Others next, Yourself last. True prayer keeps us Christ-centered, others-focused, and self-humbled. It teaches us to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:44), to trust that God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9), and to rest in the assurance that “all things work together for good to those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). Sometimes God’s answers are delayed, but delay is not denial—it is His perfect timing. Like Habakkuk, we must learn to wait in faith, even when answers seem slow.
In conclusion, prayer is not simply a duty; it is the heartbeat of the Christian life. It draws us close to God, fills us with His peace, strengthens our faith, and aligns our will with His. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that God makes everything beautiful in its time. So even if our prayers seem unanswered, we can trust that He has a better plan. Therefore, let us pray sincerely, faithfully, and humbly—always with the heart that says, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
