Why Prayer Should Be the Heartbeat of a Man’s Life
by Evans Hodges
A soldier wouldn’t go into battle without the proper gear and armor or without going before his commander first. As men enlisted in the Lord’s army, we should never begin our daily battles without putting on the full armor of God and checking in with our Commander (Ephesians 6:11-12).
Prayer should be the heartbeat of a man’s life. Surrendering our families, work, decisions, and future to the Lord is not weakness—it is dependence on the One who gives us strength. Here are four reasons why a man after God’s own heart should stay on his knees more than he stands:
1. Prayer Reminds a Man to Depend on God
One of Satan’s greatest temptations is convincing men that they have all the answers and must handle everything on their own. We live in a society where a man is often expected to never show weakness, when true, biblical strength begins with acknowledging our desperate need for Jesus.
Jesus reminds us in John 15:4–5 that He is the vine and we are the branches: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, a man cannot live the fruitful life God intended, if he is unwilling to abide in and depend on Him.
“Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian; secret prayer is the strength of the Christian.” -George Müller
2. Prayer Prepares a Man for Battle
Every man faces daily spiritual battles involving his character, marriage, family, integrity, and faith. Prayer prepares us to stand firm rather than fight in our own strength, surrendering our battle plan for the Lord’s.
Jesus told His disciples, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). We pray because we have an enemy who is constantly looking for an opportunity to make us stumble.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
— 1 Peter 5:8
3. Prayer Prepares a Man to Lead
A man who is ready to lead is a man who starts the day on his knees. An army doesn’t enter enemy territory without knowing the mission or listening to its commander, and men shouldn’t lead their families, make decisions, or take on responsibility without first seeking God’s wisdom and direction.
We shouldn’t simply ask God to bless what we’ve already planned; we should surrender our plans to Him and say, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” Prayer teaches a man to lead from submission rather than self-reliance.
“Prayer is not preparation for the work; prayer is the work.”
— H.B. Charles Jr.
4. Prayer Molds a Man’s Character and Deepens His Understanding of God’s Word
Prayer doesn’t just change our circumstances; it changes how we face those circumstances. As we consistently go to the Good Shepherd, He exposes hidden pride, redirects our motives, strengthens our faith, and molds our character to look more like His.
Prayer and God’s Word go hand in hand in helping us know God and understand His ways and revealing our shortcomings.. As we pray through Scripture, we see His character more clearly and learn to align our hearts with His commands and His will; the more a man knows God’s Word, the more his prayers begin to reflect God’s heart.
“The goal of prayer is the ear of God.”- A.W. Tozer
The world doesn’t need more men who just look strong on the outside and act like they have it all together. The world needs men who know the source of their strength.
Seek God. Stand on His Word. Stay on your knees more than you stand.
*Take your right next steps in making prayer a daily discipline in your life:
- Highlight any bible passage you read that mentions prayer with the same color.
- Set the tone for the day and pray right after you wake up in the morning.
- Model for your family that prayer is important. If you’re on a roadtrip, pray with them in the car.
- Pray with your co-workers while you’re at work and in gaps throughout the work day.
**Evans and Mike got the chance to hear H.B. Charles, Jr. preach on ‘The Priorities of Jesus’ (prayer being one of them) this past Tuesday at the Engaging Exposition Conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Check out the sermon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rUykwzPYmg