God is with us in prayer. By being in the presence of God, speaking to God, hearing from God, and desiring to know God more, lives are changed. Specifically, our hearts, other's hearts, and even situations are changed. So much change happens in prayer.
Have I grown distant from the Lord and experienced less of God’s amazing, changing power because I have ceased to pray? This battle is not against flesh and blood, the Bible tells us, yet we spend so much of our time fighting the fleshly battles. Have I been so distracted or so busy lately that I haven’t had much time to pray?
In our lack and limited prayer, the enemy is gaining ground. We see in Daniel 10 that as Daniel began to pray, his prayer was beginning to be answered. But Daniel continued in prayer and fasting for days after, and we see his prayers were finally answered.
Let’s begin to pray — and continue to pray.
Let’s not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray. As Samuel said in 1 Samuel 12:23, "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."
Lord, forgive me for the prayers I have not prayed or have stopped praying, and teach me to pray!