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Why Pray?

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Staff Member
"Why pray? What is the point of prayer when God knows the future and is already in control of everything? If we cannot change God's mind, why should we pray?"

Why pray? Why pray when God is already in perfect control of everything? Why pray when God knows what we are going to ask before we ask it?

(1) Prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38). We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7).

(2) Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church (Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3). If Jesus thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should also.

(3) God intends for prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations:
a) Preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13)
b) Overcoming demonic barriers in lives (Matthew 17:14-21)
c) The gathering of workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2)
d) The gaining of strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41)
e) The means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19)
(4) We have God's promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we don't receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27).

(5) He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15).

Sometimes He delays His answers according to His wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and persistent in prayer (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8). Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.

In situations for which we do not know specifically what God's will is, prayer is a means of discerning God’s will. If Peter had not asked for Jesus to call for him to come out of the boat and onto the water, he would have missed that opportunity (Matthew 14:28-29). If the Syrian woman with the demon-influenced daughter had not prayed to Christ, her daughter would not have been made whole (Mark 7:26-30). If the blind man outside of Jericho would not have called out to Christ, he would have still been blind (Luke 18:35-43). God has said that often we go without because we do not ask (James 4:2). In one sense, prayer is like sharing the gospel with people. We do not know who will respond to the message of the gospel until we share it. It is the same with prayer: we will never see the results of answered prayer until we pray.

A lack of prayer demonstrates the a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word, and will bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of "plugging into" God's power, it is our means of defeating a foe and his army (Satan and his army) that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a High Priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18). May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in prayer.

Article by gotquestions.org
 
Member
I agree that it 'plugs' us into God.
Whenever I think about how important it is for us to talk to God, and whether it changes His mind or not, think about you as a parent, or your own parents.
I think of my children- asking me for something that I had not considered giving to them, and when they ask, knowing I could say yes or no, it is a blessing to me. I may give it or I may not, but they have given the choice to me and are not holding back.
I wonder if God feels like that when we ask from Him.

I also think of Abraham, hearing that God is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and knowing that Lot lived there, he was bold enough to approach God. God allowed Abraham to talk him down from total destruction, to not destroying it if 50, then 45, then 40, then 30, then 20, then 10 righteous people could be found there. God could have told Abraham to stay out of His business, but He didn't. He let Abraham determine the amount of righteous people needed to save those towns. (Genesis 18) --sure the towns were still destroyed, but God stayed by His word. Ten righteous people were not found.
Lot negotiated for his own life and his family's lives with the angels. They told Lot that they could not destroy the town until he was in the mountains (God destroyed the towns but did not destroy one righteous person, going further than Abraham considered doing). Lot did not think he could make it to the mountains before the destruction overtook him, and asked to go to the little town of Zoar. And the angels agreed. They are the voice box of God, so to speak, so it was okay with God that Lot negotiated a different escape route. (Genesis 19)
I think prayer has more power than we can possibly imagine, especially when we are praying God's will and for intercession for others. Just because we can't see the results doesn't mean they aren't there. I am glad that people take the time to pray for me!!
 
Member
They are right reasons for sure and in Egypt we also pray so God help us against poverty, diseases and to soften rulers hearts, Give them wisdom.

I think praying is like crying, Some people cry because of some troubles that will never be solved and despite that, they just keep on crying because tears help them somehow to stand or tolerate an endless pain, I believe craying is synonymous to praying and we usually use the word cry to mean that we pray so when I say I cry to the Lord, I mean I pray strongly to the Lord.
I think love and pain are reasons too for praying, tears is a need especially in hard times even if there is no hope that God will change his decision.
 
Loyal
I think praying is like crying, Some people cry because of some troubles that will never be solved and despite that, they just keep on crying because tears help them somehow to stand or tolerate an endless pain, I believe craying is synonymous to praying and we usually use the word cry to mean that we pray so when I say I cry to the Lord, I mean I pray strongly to the Lord.
I think love and pain are reasons too for praying, tears is a need especially in hard times even if there is no hope that God will change his decision.

That's a beautiful and profound description of prayer. Whatever is deepest in our heart - joy or pain - finds its expression in prayer. I'll read the Psalms with new eyes from now.

Thank you
 
Member
The bible tells us prayer is communicating with God.
The first mention of prayer is found in Genesis 4:26
And we see it continual throughout the bible.
In Luke 18:1The bible tells us men are always to pray and not to faint.
Jesus our example showed us He prayed in Mark 1:35
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
 
Active
Amen Chad Very nice!!And Larry!! Prayer should be as natural as breathing!! VERY NICE!! I will write that one down as well!Ramy love and tears,nice!! And sweetygrowing not to faint,and another excellent example as well!! Mark 1:35 I for one am so thankful to all of you!! Sometimes I am not always up to snuff!! LOL But LOVE is here,because I see Jesus in each one of you!! Matt 7:7-9!! we get what we expect,Praise God!! an answer!!
 
Member
thank you so much Chad and the others as well, the importance of prayer can never be over-emphasized. I still have more to say on this topic........
 
Member
Psalm 40 :1-4 (KJV)
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
My prayer for you :
Jesus please hear the cry of your servant and let him at all times find the Love ,joy and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ , and that the chaos that surrounds your servant will only strengthen his belief and trust in Jesus Christ who is our Mediator .
Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
 
Member
no subject

I have been struggling off and on through my life seems like forever but I know it hasnt been that long And I have been asking myself why pray?What good does it do when I am still struggling and nothing has helped and I mean nothing I can pray till I am Ble in the face.I know you need faith something I have alot of but still not enough to get me through this wicked life I am living.I live a Ghost like existence I am here but not here I am there but not seen if you know what I mean?I am sure others feel the same way I do.Its like People are afraid of me and afraid to befriend me or come near me this is the way I feel and the way it seems.I am a Loner but still like to be aknowledged every once in awhile and not ignored and having raised eyebrows whne people do see me I dont even know what that means unless its some sort of greeting I highly doubt it.Nodding of the head would be a Greeting.But anyhow I have been fighting a Spiritual Battle for a Long time not wanting to but I am just thrown into the middle of it like a tuck of war between those who are good and those who want nothing more than to harm me in some sort of evil way.I need prayer but dont know where to begin I have lost my faith in prayer alot.And thats not good.I cant say whether I am truly a Pure Christian can any of us say that with a straight face I cant.I believe in God and Jesus as well as the Holy Spirit but I do not attend church and I never ever been babtized or anything I believe you dont have to go to church to beleive in God.I need my faith restored and I need to trust in God to help me but I cant right now with all I have been through I am at my breaking point and I have struggled alot and still keep going thats about all I can do sometimes I feel like falling on my face and giving up but they would win if I did that those who wish me evil and have done evil against me And I am not going to give in or give up even though thats what the evil one or the Devil and his allies wants me to do.Please pray for me that I will again have faith in God to help me with my problems which are many and few in between.Please pray that The Evil Ones who have cast evil on me and against me will be destroyed by the Hand of God one day.You can run on for a Long time but sooner or later God will cut you down.I believe that you can hurt people and use people and abuse people by casting evil against them sooner or later it all will cathc up to them.My Life has been ruined because of them those who have done evil against me Spells,Witchcraft,Voodoo Etc call it as you may.
 
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Member
Prayer is part of a relationship ! We were Created By Him for Him ! He our purpose for life !
The Most happy and greatest high i ever known was Just talking back and forth with Him ! I thoughtb i was bust apart it was Truly joy unspeakable and full of Glory !I am not lying 1 Nothing on this planet could even come close!

Listen When You get on your knees and talk to Him ! Worship Him first , pray for others then ! Then ask what you will ? Then thank Him as if you already Got what You wanted ! then worship Him more ! Then if you need to hear ? Wait !
You Might have to wait a while ?

He LOVEs You and me more than we LOVE ourselves ! He only wants the eternal Best for us ! He sees the beginning and the end , So HE knows what we need most ? We do not 1 We must trust in His judgment always and not our understanding !

It our Heart where Our desire to Love and worship Him comes from ! It not our flesh thinking !
All our deep desires to serve him ,having a better relationship and worship Him comes from our Heart [Our Spirit man]

That why we do not do as our flesh mind feels !

1Co_14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Our Spirit knows the language of New Jerusalem ! We might not speak it in the flesh ? We might just always speak in the language of the nation we are from ! It ok ! It does not make us More or LESS ! God is NO Respecter of persons ! It never personal ! But we need to obey His Word , no matter4 who tells us different !
 
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Member
Prayer is part of a relationship ! We were Created By Him for Him ! He our purpose for life !
The Most happy and greatest high i ever known was Just talking back and forth with Him ! I thoughtb i was bust apart it was Truly joy unspeakable and full of Glory !I am not lying 1 Nothing on this planet could even come close!

Listen When You get on your knees and talk to Him ! Worship Him first , pray for others then ! Then ask what you will ? Then thank Him as if you already Got what You wanted ! then worship Him more ! Then if you need to hear ? Wait !
You Might have to wait a while ?

He LOVEs You and me more than we LOVE ourselves ! He only wants the eternal Best for us ! He sees the beginning and the end , So HE knows what we need most ? We do not 1 We must trust in His judgment always and not our understanding !

It our Heart where Our desire to Love and worship Him comes from ! It not our flesh thinking !
All our deep desires to serve him ,having a better relationship and worship Him comes from our Heart [Our Spirit man]

That why we do not do as our flesh mind feels !

1Co_14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Our Spirit knows the language of New Jerusalem ! We might not speak it in the flesh ? We might just always speak in the language of the nation we are from ! It ok ! It does not make us More or LESS ! God is NO Respecter of persons ! It never personal ! But we need to obey His Word , no matter4 who tells us different !

I totally agree with you...just wanted to say....
 
Member
To quote Jim Morrison "you cannot petition the lord with prayer".
I pray as more of a conversation, not a list of requests to make life the way I think it should be.
 
Member
Hi Everyone,

This is one of the most beautiful threads I've read. People must persevere in prayer to seek for God's will and to give us the strength to overcome obstacles and temptations that keeps us away from Him. Let us pray for one another that God would grant us the gift of a meaningful way of life and that is through a sincerest prayer coupled with trust, faith, hope and confidence in God's endless love for us.


God Bless,
Ella_MAL
 
Member
prayer is needed.. It connects us to god. prayers act as a sparkplug (vehicle) that is used to ignite fire to the engine. However prayer with anointing will be magical in life.
 
Member
That was such a great answer my friend nobody but yourself could have explained that better in another 100 years I prey to Our God with you my friend:)
 
Member
I believe this as well. So many wonderful words the mind can think of ,when connected to God in such a beautiful manner. It is almost like two body's in one soul. Let us prey together for the knowledge he brings to us my friends:) because I say to you in the words of the truth "the apple surely does not fall far from the tree;)
 
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