7 Benefits of Prayer

Did you know that one-third of Americans say they use prayer to facilitate healing? This is according to Anne McCaffrey, M.D., of Harvard Medical School. She also noted that 69 percent of respondents claimed prayer improved their health. This is on top of the 7 Blessings to Pray For covered in our related blog post.

Prayer indeed has many benefits. Both for the one who prays and for those whom prayers are offered. Whether you believe in the power pray or not, it’s hard to discount the fact that prayer has been the subject of all kinds of people for centuries. Kings, sages, poets, and prophets of antiquity handed down by precept and example this rich practice which has been widely studied in the modern scientific age.

WebMD (Can Prayer Heal?), CNN (When Religion and Medicine Meet), Time Magazine (Investigating the Power of Prayer), Washington Post (Researchers Look at Prayer and Healing), USA Today (Does Prayer Have the Power to Heal?), and many others are shining the light on countless scientific studies being conducted that seek to understand the true benefits of prayer.

1. Peace of Mind – This is perhaps the most desired emotional gift we can receive through prayers. When you take all your troubles to someone you believe can handle them for you, it relieves you of the burdens and stresses associated with having to carry such loads. Why not casting all your cares upon God because He cares for you? (1 Peter 5:7) He bids us, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) And has promised, ““Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

2. Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Healing – Second to having peace of mind, everyone greatly desires health, healing, and longevity. It is one of the most studied subjects in the ancient scriptures and of science today. According to a March 31, 2015 article on Newsmax.com titled Science Proves the Healing Power of Prayer, Duke University’s Harold G. Koenig, M.D. is reported to have said, “Studies have shown prayer can prevent people from getting sick — and when they do get sick, prayer can help them get better faster.” A comprehensive investigation of more than 1,500 trustworthy medical studies “indicates people who are more religious and pray more have better mental and physical health,” Dr. Koenig says.

3. Forgiveness – Restoration to physical and spiritual health requires forgiveness and coming clean with many things in our personal lives. When you carry around guilt, shame, and unresolved social issues, it saps the life forces out of you and can even hinder your prayer life. Your immunity dips, stress levels rise, and sickness surface faster whenever bitterness and unforgiveness are present. But God has guaranteed forgiveness to all who ask. He is the One Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases (Psalm 103:3). Your part is to confess and repent. (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13)

4. Divine Wisdom and Guidance – How different would your life be if you knew and believe that through prayer, you can tap into divine knowledge to aid you every area of life? The ancients knew this well and it was the master secret to their success, wealth, and victories. This is evident by the kings of Israel when they sought God’s counsel whether or not to go into battle or how to defeat their enemies. There is no need to go through life confused about anything when God has promised, ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. If any of you lack wisdom, ask God, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to you.” (Jeremiah 33:3; James 1:5)

5. Stronger Faith and Trust in God – This should go without saying but when you pray consistently, you develop a bond that grows with the One to Whom your prayers are directed. You become more confident about living life to the full. And the deeper that faith becomes, the more effective your prayers will be because, “without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

6. Access to Heaven’s Abundant Resources – Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?”1 Prayer is an absolute for successful living. You can’t reach any worthwhile pinnacle without it. And the One to whom you pray is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or even think. (Ephesians 3:20)

7. Blessings and Miracles – The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however, the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility (Angus Buchan). In my new book, Prayers That Move Heaven – How to Get Your Prayers Answered 100% of the Time, I make the case for praying big, bold prayers for blessings and miracles in your life, ministry, and business by mastering the science of effective prayers. Too often we play it small in life and that can spill over into our spiritual lives as well. As Lissa Rankin, MD says, “If you want big miracles, you have to take big risks.” Take a risk on God – pray to Him and see how these 7 Benefits of Prayer can transform your life.

1. Which of the Benefits above do you need most in your life right now?

2. Say a prayer now to receive that benefit.

3. Read our related blog post, 7 Blessings to Pray For.