Scripture is very clear that God hears and answers our prayers. Scripture also tells us that we should never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We are to pray continually, but why? Is it because God likes the sound of our voices? I am sure that He does, but that is not why we need to pray without ceasing. Is it so we can keep reminding God of our requests? Since God is omniscient, that is not the reason either. I believe that we are told to pray without ceasing for our own benefit. It’s good for our spiritual health.
For one thing, prayer brings us near to God. When we pray we enter the the throne room of God. We are in His presence when we cry out to Him in prayer, when we talk to Him about our concerns, our needs, and our desires. God’s Word tells us that, in His presence, we will find fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). God wants us to be filled with the joy that comes only through Him. When we spend time with Him in prayer, we can find that joy.
Prayer also has the ability to take our minds off our problems and our difficulties and place them on God instead. We are told in Philippians 4:8 to set our minds on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. When we set our minds on God through prayer, we are doing just that.
Finally, prayer can help us to guard our hearts and keep us from temptation. In the flesh, we are weak and open to temptation. But, when we pray, we are operating in the spirit and can avoid falling into temptation (Matthew 26:41). This is important because our enemy, the devil, is always looking for ways to devour us by causing us to fall (1 Peter 5:8). When we pray, God’s eyes are on us and His ear is inclined to us (Psalm 34:15). He is near us and, when God is near us, there is no room for the devil.
Pray continually. It’s good for your spiritual health.
A Worshiper's Journal 