Prayer is of supreme importance in the life of the Christian

The Bible is full of the subject of prayer. Imagine what a mutilated book we should have if every reference to prayer were taken out of it. The fact of the emphasis on this subject of prayer which is made in the Word of God indicates to us the supreme importance placed upon it by the Holy Spirit who is the Author of the book (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

Prayer is of supreme importance in the life of the Christian because of the teaching of our Lord. Here again, imagine the four Gospels with every reference to prayer cut out of them. How mutilated the books would be! Over and over again our blessed Lord stressed the importance of prayer, gave wonderful promises in relation to prayer and encouraged His disciples (and us) to pray look up Matthew 18:19, 21:22; Mark 11:24 and John 14:13-14. He, in fact, is our great example in prayer look up Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18 and 28; 11:1 and 22:41-42.

Prayer is of supreme importance in the life of the Christian because it is the first instinct of the new life. Just as the first instinct of a newly-born babe is to cry, and in so doing to use its lungs, so the first instinct of the newly-converted soul is to cry ?- look up Romans 8:15, and notice the illustration of this simple truth in Acts 9:11, where we read of Saul, immediately after his vision of the ascended Lord, praying.