Why Should I Pray?

I remember looking into both my daughters’ faces when they were infants and I vowed to be the best provider I could be. Before they could talk, I wasn’t always sure what they needed. As they grew up, they were better able to tell me their needs. Communication is an essential part of a loving parent-child relationship. I truly desired for them to come to me to talk and ask me to help meet their needs. The same is true with children of God.

But the prayer of the upright is His delight. (Proverbs 15:8b)

The essence of prayer is talking to God as you would a loving parent. A father who longs for His children to come to Him, telling Him of their cares and concerns. He welcomes their smiles as well as their tears.

¹ Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:1-2)

An earthly father knows something is wrong when their child quits talking to him as they once did. When we pray inconsistently, irregularly, briefly, without feeling…there is something wrong with us. We have a cold heart, a selfish heart, a disobedient heart, or an ungrateful heart.

² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2)

As we begin this study of prayer, let’s recall the words of Psalm 116:1-2

¹ I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
² Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:1-2)

The goal is to learn from scripture why one should pray and allow those reasons to encourage and motivate me to a greater life of prayer.

1.      Prayer is a Duty

·        ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

(Ephesians 6:18-19)

·        ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Without ceasing means regularly, unvarying, not hot and cold.

·        ²³ Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

(1 Samuel 12:23)

·        ² Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; ³ meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, (Colossians 4:2-3)

2.      Prayer Gives Glory to God

·        ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

(John 14:13-14)

God’s answers to our prayers displays His power, wisdom and goodness.

·        ¹⁵ Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15)

²³ Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
And to him who orders his conduct aright
I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23)

When His people pray to Him for deliverance and He saves them, they will praise Him to the world and thus glorify Him.

·        ¹⁶ “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. ¹⁷ Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. ¹⁸ O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. ¹⁹ O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” (Daniel 9:16-19)

Nations around Judah saw the captivity of Jehovah’s people and destruction of Jerusalem as evidence that Judah’s God was powerless of non-existent. So Daniel prayed that God would show His power and bring glory to His name.

3.      Prayer Helps Put Us in Line with God’s Will

·        ⁹ In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)

Prayer is not for God to do our will, but that His will be done.

·        ¹ Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness. (Psalm 143:1)

¹⁰ Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness. (Psalm 143:10)

We must pray for Him to teach us His will.

·        ¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Prayer is associated with salvation, God’s will.

4.      Prayer is Effective

·        ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

(James 5:16)

“afflicted”—pray!

Definitely true of spiritual sickness. Answer by God’s providence.

·        ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:15)

Our Heavenly Father hears us. But only those who can legitimately call God their Father have this assurance. Is God your Father? Have you been born again? Have you become a child of God?

If so, have you been praying to Him as you should? Have you become cold or ungrateful? He longs for you to come before Him.

 

 

 

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