Why Do We Pray?
Let me count the reasons. We pray because…
- God loves company.
- Prayer is a privilege.
- It is God’s way of blessing.
- It changes us to more fully partner with God.
- And we have a standing, open invitation to come bravely before the throne of our merciful God whenever we are in need. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help (Hebrews 4:16, CEV).
We pray because prayer is powerful. God can do more in five seconds than we could do in five years of effort and energy.
The greatest tragedy in the Christian life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.
How fervently would you pray if you believed that prayer is the key to everything we need to do and be in life. Prayer mysteriously releases the power of God in a way nothing else can.
Nothing of eternal significance happens unless we pray.
We pray because Jesus prayed. If you want to be like Jesus, begin and end everything in prayer. Jesus began his ministry with 40 days of praying and ended his life praying on a cross. And now he ever lives to make intercession for us! He praying for us right now. If you want to be like Jesus, you begin and end everything in prayer. It’s just that important. Live a life of prayer and out of that God does amazing and incredible things in and around our lives. Prayer is the means by which ministry is sustained.
“Tragically, we have failed to realize that prayer is the launchpad of all ministry and that without it we short-circuit God’s chosen method of work.”
–Richard A. Burr
Prayer is the launchpad of all ministry [Burr, Richard A. Developing Your Secret Closet of Prayer with Study Guide (p. 19). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition]. Praying men and women, moved to act in faith, have accomplished things far beyond their own limited capabilities . If you believe that “prayer unlocks the door of heaven and releases the power of God,” wouldn’t you pray more? Everything has to be out of prayer. We don’t just come up with our plans and sprinkle them with prayer! Begin with prayer and out of prayer comes mission. As my new friends at Rooftop Ministries remind me, we join Jesus where He is working; not ask Him to join us.
The mission must be subordinated to prayer. We must depend on the Holy Spirit. That’s why Jesus after giving the Great Commission, told his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. Holy Spirit is our Helper but really, we ought to be His Partner! He really ought to be God, the Holy Spirit who has come in the name of Jesus to complete the work of Jesus in us and through us! Let Him be in the lead! Not just helping us a little bit but driving us to the task and opening the door to what God wants to do or accomplish.
So, what exactly is the power of prayer? The power of prayer isn’t in the words you utter. It’s not about what you pray or even how you pray. Prayer can be defined as talking to God, but it is much more than that. Prayer is an act of worship that glorifies God and reinforces our need for Him. Through living a life of prayer, we communicate with the very source of and purpose for our existence. It’s the simple difference between defeat or victory. The absence of prayer will cause us to rely on ourselves and what we can accomplish in our own strength.
Prayer is an act of worship that glorifies God and reinforces our need for him.
“Prayer refocuses us on God and not on ourselves or other people. Real power comes from God, not our humanistic abilities or talents. When we pray, we stop believing we’re the only ones capable of solving problems.”
–Scott Colvin
We pray because the victories that are won, are first claimed by prayer. Prayer opens doors that might have otherwise been closed. Prayer is our fiercest weapon against the enemy and all things in this fallen world.
Priscilla Shirer, the author of Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer says, “Prayer is the portal that brings the power of heaven down to earth. It is kryptonite to the enemy and to all his ploys against you.”
In other words, when we ask God to give us a love for our neighbors, He does. When we ask Him for patience, he begins to tend to our hearts, uprooting areas of impatience and then provides opportunity to practice patience. When we ask Him to be near to us, his presence sweeps in and surrounds us like a cozy blanketed embrace filled with his peace and strength. If you have no expectation that He will answer, that likely explains why though you are rich as Timothy Keller says, you are living poor.
Why must we pray?
- Draws us closer to God
- Keeps us in God’s will
- Prayer brings peace
- Prayer heals
- Prayer changes a situation
- Reduces selfish attitudes
- Helps to overcome temptations
- Prayer makes us happy
There is power in prayer_480p_mov
“Satan laughs at our (efforts) and mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray. The work of the Evil One is to distract, to cause us to miss our purpose.”
How should we pray? Pray forcefully as if we are the person or ministry we are representing in prayer. Knock forcefully. Ask with intensity. One person praying alone is heard, but when we pray together, we amplify the power of prayer. MG_1096
