Does Daily Prayer Make a Difference?

Prayer. It’s usually the first thing we ask for when we have a rough patch we’re going through or some kind of trouble in our lives; an unexpected illness, death, family discord, financial difficulties. All those pesky, little things that throw a monkey wrench in our day-to-day routines.

After all, Psalm 4:1 says, “You have given me relief when I was in distress.” We know prayer works. We’ve heard others speak of it and maybe have even experienced it for ourselves. But, have you ever stopped to realize what daily prayer is really all about?

It’s not about the things we want, wish for, or even need. It’s about having a relationship with our Creator. Revelation 4:11 states, “for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

See that? Read it again. We were created for His pleasure. The Oxford Dictionary defines “pleasure” as “a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.” Think for a minute how YOU feel when someone pays you a compliment. Maybe they tell you how nice you look, what a great job you’re doing, or just reminding you how loved you are.

That’s exactly what our ‘daily’ prayer is for! To praise God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, His Son, for just being who They are. Sure, supplication, which is humbly asking for something, is certainly acceptable and is usually a huge part of everyone’s prayer life. How much sweeter, though, would it be if we just praised? Show our Creator some unconditional love just like He’s shown us.

Jeremiah 31:3 reminds us that He loves us with an everlasting love. Everlasting literally means for all eternity. You know how it is with our children or other family members, right? How sad would it be if the only time they came to us was when circumstances motivated them because they wanted or needed something? We want them to come to us of their own free will. Come to us with a smile, a warm hug, and sweet words of love. Those times make us want to give them the world on a silver platter! Matthew 7:11 hits it home, “if you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask?”

Daily prayer, with practice, will become the smiles, warm hugs, and sweet words of love that we send to our Maker. How would it make Him feel? Wouldn’t you like to be the one to put a big ol’ smile on His face?