Why pray? What is the purpose of prayer?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The purpose of prayer is multifaceted. We can use it to thank, praise, and bless God (Psalm 100:4) and make requests to Him (Matthew 7:7-11; Philippians 4:6). One of the greatest examples of prayer is Jesus’ in John 17, in which He prays both for Himself and others. In Matthew 6:5-13, Jesus gives specific instructions on how to pray. As God’s children, we can be assured that Jesus is our High Priest who sympathizes with our human weaknesses, has endured temptations like us, and has made a way for us to “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Through prayer, we can communicate with God continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), developing an intimate communion with Him. We can also cast our anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:6-7) and ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5) .

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• We pray because we are compelled to thank, praise, and bless God. Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Thanking God, praising Him, and blessing Him are all elements of prayer. Matthew 7:7-11 records Jesus' instructions to ask, seek, and knock. When we pray, this is what we are doing. Matthew 6:5-13 describes Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray. He begins the discourse by saying, "And when you pray." Prayer is assumed; it's something we must do.
• Jesus set a great example of prayer for us. The Gospels mention several times that Jesus prayed. John 17 is perhaps one of the best examples. If Jesus—who is God—prayed to the Father, this should help us realize how necessary it is for us to communicate with our Heavenly Father.
• Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Prayer is important because it is a time in which we can ask God to help us as we struggle with anxiety or have requests for Him.
• Hebrews 4:15-16 refers to Jesus as our High Priest: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We have access to God through prayer; as we speak to Him, Jesus can sympathize with our human limitations and struggles.
• We should pray all the time as it is a way of communicating with God—the source of our life, our hope, and our purpose. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul writes, "pray without ceasing."
• James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." Through prayer, we have the incredible opportunity to ask and receive wisdom from God himself.
• First Peter 5:6-7 says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." Through prayer, we can literally throw our anxieties onto God instead of bearing them alone.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

We can exercise the privilege of prayer because Jesus made a sacrifice for us—bridging the gap between us and God. In some ways, prayer is one of the greatest privileges of the Christian walk. Through it, we can approach God and get to know Him through communing with Him. When we approach God with the desires of our hearts, He answers us (Psalm 37:4; John 14:13-14; and 1 John 5:14-15). This doesn’t mean that He will always say “Yes.” As our omniscient Creator, He knows what is best for us, so we should pray within His will (1 John 5:14-15). Praying alone or corporately brings God glory, gives us insight into who He is, and has a tangible effect on our lives. Prayer is a one of a kind gift—and it is an essential spiritual discipline we should practice at all times.

UNDERSTAND

• Prayer is a privilege that helps us to grow closer to God.
• Our prayers should include praise and thanksgiving for who God is and what He has done in our lives.
• During prayer, we can ask for the desires of our heart and cast our anxieties upon the Lord.

REFLECT

• How has your prayer life affected your relationship with the Lord?
• How has your prayer life impacted your faith?
• How do you keep your prayers from becoming rote?

ENGAGE

• How can believers guard against performative prayers during corporate prayer sessions?
• How can prayer be used to share the love of Christ with unbelievers?
• How can believers best explain the purpose of prayer to those who question why we pray if God knows the outcome already?