The Value of Prayer

Hosea 14:7

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

Prayer is one of the most valuable tools God gives the believer. This is why prayer is the last thing God commands the believer to take on when He gives the Christian armour. Notice God says in Ephesians 6:18, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; God knows that all the offensive weapons of the Christian armour are worthless if you don't combine them with prayer. Prayer makes the offensive weapons work; whereas, without prayer, the offensive weapons will fail.

In God’s plea to Israel that they return to Him, He starts by asking them to go back to prayer. Notice God says, They that dwell under his shadow. This phrase refers to Psalm 91:1 which says, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. In both of these verses, God uses the word dwell or dwelleth under the shadow of prayer. God did not say, he that visits under the shadow, but he that dwells under the shadow. To dwell is to live there. My dwelling is the place where I live. The believer who dwells or lives in prayer is the believer who finds many great benefits that will help them in their life. There are four benefits that we find for the believer who dwells in prayer.

The first benefit of prayer is revival. Notice God says, they shall revive as the corn. Prayer always brings revival to the heart of the believer. You cannot walk with holiness and live in the sin that keeps your heart cold. A believer who dwells in prayer will find the things of God are exciting. The only reason people lose their shout, excitement, and fire is because they stopped dwelling in prayer. Oh, they may pray, but they visit in prayer instead of dwelling in prayer.

The second benefit of prayer is growth. God says the believer who dwells in prayer will grow as the vine. You cannot dwell with a holy God and not grow. The only reason some believers do not grow is because they do not dwell with God in prayer. If your lacking in growth in your Christian walk, you need to start dwelling in prayer. If your ministry is not seeing growth, instead of visiting God in prayer, you need to dwell with God in prayer. Prayer ignites growth and excitement in your ministry and life.

The third benefit of prayer is a lifestyle change. Notice that God talks about the scent of the believer who dwells in prayer. Your scent is the smell your life gives off. Your scent comes from who you spend time with. Your scent will change when you dwell with God in prayer. You can visit God in prayer and live a worldly life, but you cannot dwell in prayer and live a worldly life at the same time. You will become or smell like who you spend time with.

The fourth benefit of prayer is fruit. God says in verse 8, From me is thy fruit found. This would agree with 1 Corinthians 3:7 which says God giveth the increase. If you are lacking fruit, you must determine whether you are dwelling in prayer. You cannot dwell in prayer without finding the Holy Spirit’s power empowering you to bring forth fruit.

The key to these benefits is WORK. You dwell with God so you can work for Him. You cannot have growth and fruit without working. Combine working for God with dwelling with Him in prayer, and you will realize the benefits of prayer.