I have been thinking alot about the importance of prayer lately and as Christians I believe we do not pray enough. Often we say a quick prayer in the morning or before meals or at night, but prayer is so much bigger. I think prayer should be as important to a Christian as breathing and we should be engaged in it constantly throughout the day.  Romans 12:12 says we are to be “faithful in prayer.” I Corinthians 7:5 says we are to be “devoted to prayer.”  I Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray continually.” Jesus Christ showed the importance of prayer thoroughout his entire ministry upon the earth. He would rise up a great while before day simply to prayer. Prayer is a vital part of the whole armor of God as revealed in Ephesians 6 that enables us to stand against the methods and stragetes of the devil. The world would have you believe that prayer does not matter or is just meaningless words. But this is not true as prayer is vital to life and truly does change things. We will probably never know the full effect of our prayers, but God is constantly commanding and encouraging us to pray so it must be vitally important to our lives. I would encourage you to pick up a copy of The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer. It can be purchased on Amazon.com. This is  an amazing  book on prayer. E.M. Bounds fathfully followed the charge to pray without ceasing. It was as normal and essental to him as breathing. He relished his time in conversation with God and he captured the essence of prayer in this book. Isn’t that what prayer is in its least common denominator is an intimate conversation with God that is fused with faith.  Prayer is a partner with faith, trust, patience and grace and unleashes power like the world has never known. This book will bless you immensly and change your prayer life forever. It really raised my vision to the importance of prayer and just how much of an impact it can make. You cannot stand faithfully for God against the devil without prayer. It is a vital component of the armor of God and without it, there is a missing piece of the armor that leaves us vulnerable to attack. We must not only prayer for our needs and our families needs, but pray for our country, our schools and our communities that the forces of darkness be pushed back and God’s Word sets the captives free. Pray for justice in our courts and our communities. Pray that God moves mightily in the hearts of men and women. These are important prayers that can make an impact in our communtes. Let us make a pledge that in 2010 we will be more devoted to prayer and more faithful in prayer than we have ever been before. Encourage your churches to pray more and be an example to them of a prayer warrior.  Prayer must become a fundamental habit of every Christian believer. Pray. Pray. Pray. And then pray some more. Let your prayers been rooted in a heart of faith and trust in God and watch our good and marvelous God go to work.