To whom we pray
Before we can answer, “why should we pray,” we must know to whom we pray. There is only one supreme Creator and sovereign God. There is only one way to Him and that is through His only-Son, Jesus Christ. John 14:6 says that Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” God, our Heavenly father is the only one we can be assured of who hears and answers our prayers. He is the God of amazing love, mercy and forgiveness.
Through Him, all things are possible. Jesus says in Mark 10:27. “Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Daniel 9:18 tells us that “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.” Finally, God’s ultimate demonstration of love is forgiveness of the sins each of us have committed. John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it”
Why we should pray
There is nothing we can’t pray about. There are abundant references to prayer in the Bible. The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” and “in everything give thanks to the Lord.” When we choose to have a positive attitude, we realize we have received many blessings for which to give God praise.
We find intimacy with God through communicating with Him in prayer. 1 John 5:14 says that this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” We should all go to Him in faith and be confident that He hears and answers all our prayers. And because, God knows and wants what is best for us, so ask that His will be done in all we seek from Him.
Prayer is highly encouraged and commanded in the Bible. So, let us explore these many reasons to pray in the context of God’s Word.
First, to establish and maintain our relationship with God
Prayer draws us closer to God and deepens our relationship with Him. He created us with a need for connection, and prayer is connection. Praying is talking to the Lord, just like friends talking to each other and is brought closer together through their sharing. When we pray, we share our innermost being with Him. Through prayer, we are transformed and renewed. Prayer reminds us that we are dependent on God and not on ourselves.
Second, to confess our sins and accept His forgiveness. James 5:16 said that “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” So, why pray? Because God says it makes quite an impact!
Third, to ask for direction, wisdom and knowledge. Prayer is seeking direction from God. Everyone turns to Matthew 7:7-11. Here, Jesus talks about asking, seeking, and knocking, “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.” Jesus encourages us to ask God for things. “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?” James 1:5-7 says “If you need wisdom -- if you want to know what God wants you to do -- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really believe and expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”
Fourth, pray for thanksgiving and praise. The Apostles reflected Jesus’ attitude toward prayer and encouraged and commended prayer in their writings. In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells believers to pray for everything with thanksgiving. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul writes, “Keep on praying.” Prayer, for Paul, is the ultimate lifeline for the believer to God. Pray with thanksgiving for all the ways He blesses us (Philippians 4:6.)
A prime example of a life lived by prayer is in the life of Jesus. He constantly went before God in prayer for every move He made, asking God for guidance, leading and direction, resist temptation, ask for courage, offer thanksgiving and pray for others.
Prayer is essential to fellowship with God. Not just to have our prayers answered by God, nor just because the Scriptures tell us to, though that is reason enough. God is the Father of the entire human race, and God cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) This means the child of God can pray, ask, and cast all his care upon God, his Father. Paul states in Romans 8:15, when we are His children, adopted into His family, we can begin calling him, "Father, dear Father."
