The Lifeblood of the New Believer
When someone comes to faith in Jesus, they’ve just begun an amazing journey of following Christ. But new Christians will flounder and struggle unless they develop spiritual disciplines to nourish their souls.
Two essential habits for spiritual health are private prayer and group prayer. These are “means of grace” to the Christian. Let’s explore why both are vital.
Jesus set the example of frequently withdrawing to pray alone and have intimate fellowship with His Heavenly Father. Though Jesus Himself was fully God, He modeled for us the importance of private prayer through verses like Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Jesus said, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
Through Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, the barrier between us and God has been demolished (Hebrews 10:19–20). We can now boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Prayer is the means of God’s grace to us, the gas in our spiritual tank.
Question 1. Why is it vital to seek the Lord privately and pray to Him?
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As believers, it’s crucial that we develop regular habits of praying privately, as Jesus did. These “quiet times” instruct our minds, convict our hearts, guide our paths, and remind us of God’s truth in the face of life’s storms. Private prayer and Bible study are like food for the soul; they nourish, energize, and equip us for each day. Jeremiah said, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16).
When we pray, we deepen our connection with the Savior, who gave Himself for us in love. We affirm that, apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5). We draw upon the Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome (Acts 1:8). Neglecting private prayer makes us weak and vulnerable, disconnected from the Vine who gives us life, like a car that has run out of gas.
In prayer, we also rejoice in the gospel, thanking God for the gift of salvation through His Son (Ephesians 2:8–9). We marvel that the Creator would even listen to us. Through the cross of Christ, we have free access to speak intimately with the God of the universe (Hebrews 4:16). What an awesome privilege for every believer!