As the saying goes, “Anything worthwhile takes time.” Every day, we dedicate time to various activities—our careers, studies, relationships, personal development, and even leisure—because we recognize their importance and the benefits they bring. We are intentional about a lot of these things, understanding that success in any area requires consistency, time, and effort.

Yet, if we are willing to invest so much time in earthly endeavors, how much more should we invest in spending time with God in prayer? If anything worthwhile takes time, then prayer certainly deserves our time and attention.

Through this week, we have been studying and learning about prayers and in today’s devotional, we will be answering the question; “why do we pray long.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 
New King James Version

17 pray without ceasing, 

We have established that, as believers, prayer is our sustenance—just as breathing is essential for life, we cannot live without prayer. It should be more than just an occasional activity; it ought to be our lifestyle. A believer who only prays in emergencies or does the bare minimum in prayer cannot step into their full potential because prayer is an investment—an investment of your time and an investment in your future. When you spend long hours in prayer, you build up yourself spiritually and rise like an edifice.

1 Timothy 4:8 
New King James Version
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 

Apostle Paul draws a comparison between physical and spiritual discipline, emphasizing the eternal value of training for godliness. Just as consistent physical exercise makes you stronger physically, long hours in prayer make you stronger spiritually. Metaphorically, your spirit has a muscle that can be exercised and expanded.

To better understand why we pray long, let’s examine examples from Scripture of individuals who committed themselves to long hours of prayer and the results that followed.

Starting with Jesus, our ultimate example; 

Luke 6:12-13 
New King James Version
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself;  and from them, He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

Jesus lived a life of prayer. He often withdrew to pray, spending long hours in communion with the Father. One instance we see of this is in Luke 6:12-13, where Jesus prayed all night before choosing His disciples. Even before He started His ministry, He spent time with God in the wilderness, fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, and the result of that was that He returned in the power of The Spirit.

Luke 4:14
New King James Version
14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

Another example is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:39-40, 42, 44 
New King James Version
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  

42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”  

44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 

What did Jesus pray about? – “If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will”. 

How long does it take to say that? 

Yet many theologians believe that Jesus spent at least three hours because He went back to His disciples and asked – “Could you not watch with Me one hour?” and He went back to them at two other intervals.

A lot more happens in prayer than simply listing out your requests. Luke’s account explains further what happened in that time of prayer.

Luke 22:43
New King James Version
43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 

Jesus went in with His soul exceedingly sorrowful unto death and came out strengthened, aligned and ready to do the will of God. If Jesus, God in flesh, spent time praying, how much more should we? 

As followers of Christ, we must be ready to adopt that same lifestyle to carry out all God would have us do.

John 11:41
New King James Version
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  

Long prayers also make it possible for us to stand and make bold faith declarations. Jesus knew that Lazarus had been dead, yet on getting there four days after Lazarus’ death, He thanked God for hearing Him. 

He stood and declared that Lazaraus comes out. Understand that, the reason why short prayers will work is because long prayers have been made.

Now, let’s take a look at the early Church; 

Acts 2:42 
New King James Version
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

The early church was steadfast in prayer, they didn’t just pray occasionally— they continued “steadfastly” in prayers and the Bible shows us that they received boldness, instructions, and direction from times of prayer.

Acts 13:2-3 
New King James Version
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 

3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 

They received an instruction, and even after that, they continued in prayer before carrying it out. As you give yourselves to prayer, your sensitivity is heightened and you can be sponsored in the direction of God’s will for your life.

Praying long is an investment in your life. It leaves you edified, strengthened, constantly on fire, staying aglow in the spirit, and remaining discerning of God’s will for your life.

To see the results the early church saw, we must do as they did. To carry out the assignments God has given us, we must devote ourselves to waiting on the Lord in prayer.

So from today, set a schedule, keep to it, and stay for long hours in prayers. 

Commit to prayer structures in your local church and give yourself entirely to prayers, and your profiting will be evident to all. 

Prayer Point
 Father, thank you for the privilege of prayer. I set structures in place and take advantage of them so that I am built up, strengthened and prepared for all You would have me do.