Biblical Answer

The Role of Prayer in Christian Spiritual Formation

Prayer is a vital component of Christian spiritual formation, and the Bible emphasizes its virtues and benefits. According to Hebrews 4:16, prayer is the link with the Eternal by which man can come to the throne of grace in the power of the Holy Spirit and find grace to help in time of need. This suggests that prayer is not just a means of getting things for ourselves, but rather a way of communing with God and conforming ourselves to His will. As Paul urges in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we must pray continually, putting prayer on a far higher plane than mere intercession.

The Bible teaches us that prayer is a direct personal request to God for His intervention, whether it be for healing, raising the dead, or asking for grace and strength to live our separate lives (Philippians 4:6-7). However, prayer is not just about asking God to do something for us; it's also about creating in ourselves a right attitude with respect to God's will. Jesus taught his disciples to pray in a way that seeks to set forward Christ himself, and the purpose of it all is the glory of God (The Gospel According to John, p. 646). This means that prayer is not just about getting what we want, but about aligning our lives with God's purposes and plans.

Ultimately, the Bible teaches us that prayer is essential to the Christian life. There is no faith without prayer, and to be a strong Christian, we must be strong pray-ers. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished, and it's a means of creating a positive mental attitude in ourselves so that we are able to do what we have asked to have done. As the Spirit helps our weaknesses, we must also acknowledge our spiritual poverty and need, and pray for spiritual good (Romans 8:26-27). By doing so, we can experience the benefits of prayer and grow in our spiritual formation as Christians.