Why Pray

Mark 14:38

Watch and pray so that you will not fall
into temptation The spirit is willing, but
the body is weak.  (Words of Christ)

      There are approximately 375 verses of Scripture which give direction or information about prayer. Put simply, prayer is talking with God. Most would agree that it goes much deeper than that explanation, but today I would like to explore a few reasons we should pray.

      Prayer is our lifeline to God, and His Word teaches believers that God wants to hear from His children.  Colossians 4:2 tells us to devote ourselves to prayer. 1 Timothy 2:1 urges us to pray for all people—with thanksgiving. Prayer is important.

     Prayer allows us close fellowship with God as we worship and confess our sins and as we lay our petitions before Him and wait and listen for Him to answer. Romans 12:2 tells us that we can be “transformed by the renewing of our mind”. This is done through the study of God’s Word and prayer. Prayer draws us closer to God.

     E.M. Bounds once said, “Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.”  Martin Luther said, “Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon.”

      Matthew 7:7-8 instructs us to knock, ask, and seek God in prayer. As Christians, prayer is our most powerful tool. It brings peace in the time of trouble (Philippians 4:6-7) and protection in the time of danger (John 17:15).

     Reasons to pray are innumerable. But the good news encourages me every day. God hears us when we pray, He acts on what we pray, and He changes the world because we pray.