Is Prayer Still Important in Our Lives?

By James Katende – Is prayer the first thing we do when we open our eyes in the morning and the last thing we do before we close them at night?

For many, the answer is no, not because they do not believe in the power of prayer, but because life has become so loud, so rushed, and so full of distractions that prayer is often pushed aside as something optional rather than essential. Yet, in truth, prayer is not just a ritual or a religious habit. It is a lifeline, a sacred connection between the soul and its Creator. It is the grounding force that brings peace before the day begins and restoration before the night takes over. To begin and end each day with prayer is to remind yourself who you are, what truly matters, and who is in control when everything else feels uncertain.

There is a divine power that awakens when we choose to start our mornings in stillness, in surrender, in conversation with the One who holds all things together. Morning prayer is not just about asking for blessings or protection. It is about aligning your spirit with divine truth before the world tries to feed you its chaos. It is declaring with boldness that today, you will not be ruled by fear, confusion, or pressure, but by purpose, peace, and faith. It is saying thank you before making any demands, it is releasing anxiety before picking up your phone, and it is remembering that you were created for more than survival. You were created for impact, and prayer prepares your heart to carry that responsibility with grace and strength.

Likewise, prayer at night is not just a closing of the day but a declaration that even in rest, you are held. It is the sacred pause where you let go of the weight you carried and the battles you fought. It is the moment where you release what you cannot control and trust that God can handle what you cannot. Nighttime prayer is powerful because it reminds you that rest is not weakness but obedience. It is choosing peace over panic, surrender over striving, and faith over fear. It is where healing begins, where perspective is restored, and where your soul is reminded that no matter what today looked like, you made it through and you are still standing.

In a world that constantly pulls us in a thousand directions, choosing prayer first and last is a radical act of discipline and devotion. It is putting God at the centre, not just in words, but in practice. It is giving the first and the last moments of your day back to the One who gave you the breath to live them. It is building a habit of intimacy, not performance, and stepping into divine alignment before stepping into the demands of the day or the silence of the night. Those who make prayer their first and last response are not weak or dependent. They are wise. They are spiritually awake. They understand that strength does not come from doing more, but from being deeply rooted in the presence of God.

So let prayer not be our last resort, but our first response. Let it rise from our lips before the sun does, and let it settle into our hearts before sleep finds us. Because the truth is, we were never meant to do life alone. We were never meant to carry the full weight of our burdens in silence. Prayer is not a sign of helplessness. It is a weapon of power, a source of wisdom, and the pathway to divine transformation. Make it your rhythm, your refuge, and your declaration that every single day, no matter what it brings, you walk not in your own strength, but in the power and presence of something far greater.