Answering Questions

•HOW OFTEN SHOULD I PRAY•

First Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We are told In the Bible to pray without ceasing. In one verse God shows us how important prayer is.
Daniel:
Daniel is a great example of why prayer is so useful. If we look in Daniel chapter 6 we see Daniels devotion to God. We see that he regularly prayed. He prayed on average 3 times per day.

It pleased Darius(A) to appoint 120 satraps(B) to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.(C) The satraps were made accountable(D) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.(E) 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges(F) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."(G)

6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: "May King Darius live forever!(H) 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors(I) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den.(J) 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered-in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."(K) 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward(L) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees(M) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.(N) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(O) 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions' den?"

The king answered, "The decree stands-in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."(P)

13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,(Q) pays no attention(R) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(S) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, "Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."(T)

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den.(U) The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue(V) you!"

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed(W) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating(X) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.(Y)

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"(Z)

21 Daniel answered, "May the king live forever!(AA) 22 My God sent his angel,(AB) and he shut the mouths of the lions.(AC) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.(AD) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty."

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound(AE) was found on him, because he had trusted(AF) in his God.

24 At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den,(AG) along with their wives and children.(AH) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.(AI)

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language(AJ) in all the earth:

"May you prosper greatly!(AK)

26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence(AL) the God of Daniel.(AM)

"For he is the living God(AN)
and he endures forever;(AO)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.(AP)
27 He rescues and he saves;(AQ)
he performs signs and wonders(AR)
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."(AS)
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b](AT) the Persian.(AU)
Why is this so important?
God died for us so that through Him we could receive salvation. He wants a deep relationship with us, without maintaining our prayer we are distant from Him. Without that bond we will be less capable of filling our full potential. We most have self discipline when it comes to our relationship with Christ, because He won't force it on you. It is our job in our relationship with God to pray. We should abide by what His word says and we should continually try to be in His presence 2-3 times per day at minimum.
Biblical backup:
Nehemiah 1:4-6
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.(A) For some days I mourned and fasted(B) and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: "Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God,(C) who keeps his covenant of love(D) with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear(E) the prayer(F) your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess(G) the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you.
Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.(A)
1 Thessalonians 3:10
10 Night and day we pray(A) most earnestly that we may see you again(B) and supply what is lacking in your faith
1 Timothy 5:5-6
5 The widow who is really in need(A) and left all alone puts her hope in God(B) and continues night and day to pray(C) and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives
Hebrews 13:9-14 9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.(A) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened(B) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,(C) which is of no benefit to those who do so.(D) 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle(E) have no right to eat.(F)

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,(G) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.(H) 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate(I) to make the people holy(J) through his own blood.(K) 13 Let us, then, go to him(L) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.(M) 14 For here we do not have an enduring city,(N) but we are looking for the city that is to come.(O)