3 Dang-Good Reasons to Pray

Recently, I’ve been making an effort to resurrect my prayer life (the past couple of years I’ve been more of a meditation/listen to God girl).  Thus, I considered the reasons why I pray. The obvious?: I’ve promised a number of people I would pray for them and I do my best to keep my word.  Some of these people are readers of this blog/Substack. 

I learned many years ago the trick to keeping my word: when I promise to pray, I do it right then and there.  Somehow immediately keeping my promise helps me to remember to pray at other times as well.

Besides “because I said I would”, what other reasons are there to pray?

Reason 1: Prayer Changes You

When you pray for someone, you grow in empathy and compassion.  You are focusing outside of yourself–both on the subject of the prayer and the One you are praying to.

On a biological level, what you pray for you notice.  For example, let’s say you are regularly praying for a friend with ALS.  Because of prayer, you will be more likely to reach out and connect with that friend.  In addition, your brain picks up on other times the disease is mentioned, perhaps noticing potential treatments, ways to raise money for research, etc.

Reason 2: Prayer changes the one prayed for

Yes, even if they don’t know about it consciously.  I studied NDE’s (near death experiences) for several years.  There are two beautiful descriptions of prayer that stuck with me.  The first comes from Amy, who could reach out and touch the prayers (they had a physical manifestation in “heaven”) as well as listen to them.  As she heard them, she felt overwhelming love and care.  When we surround the people we are praying for with love, that energetically provides a shift for them.

I have a friend whom I know I can ask for prayer at any time.  When I am especially low, she prays for me.  She says that the prayer “feels” different from other prayers for her. Because I am open on the heart-level to receiving her prayers/prayer energy, she feels both a deep connection to both the Holy Spirit and to me. She also notices energy starting deep in her frontal lobe and coursing throughout her body. On my end, I feel a discernable difference in my level of peace, clarity, and closeness to God.  Her prayers literally transform my life.  

I have had similar experiences when praying for ministry partners who are open to my prayers. Though all prayer makes a difference, when both hearts are open, when “two are three are gathered in [Jesus] Name” (Matthew 18:20), the power is amplified.

Reason 3: Prayer transforms our world for the better 

In another NDE, Nilda sees a relatively darkened Earth with points of light that represent people praying.  Then, she sees what our planet would look like energetically if every person prayed.  It was as bright as the sun.  Energetically, spiritually, our prayers light up the world.

So, there you go, three reasons to take up in earnest the talking part of that two sided conversation. (talking/prayer and listening/meditation/centering prayer).  Let’s go light up the world together!

Curious for More?

Want to know more about what waits for us after we pass from this life?  Check out my book, At the Edge of the Jordan!