Why Should I Pray?

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

As Christians, we are told to pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17). But many of us still may struggle with understanding the purpose of prayer. Why should we pray? Does it really change God’s mind or plans?

We should pray because God asks us to pray. Think about the wonder of that statement. The God who created time and space invites us to pour out our hearts before Him. He invites us to share our burdens and longings with Him.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7, NIV)

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22, NIV)

We should pray because God listens to our prayers. God has promised to hear us when we pray to Him. He is never too busy to hear His children.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (I John 5:14, NIV)

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17, NIV)

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. (Psalm 55:17, NIV)

We should pray as a way of worshipping God. Have you ever thought of prayer as a form of worship? It is. For when we pray, we acknowledge the greatness of God and His worthiness and power, which is the essence of worship. In fact, the Greek word for worship is proskuneo, which means to prostrate or bow down, the posture we often take in prayer.

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2, NIV)

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker (Psalm 95:6, NIV)

We should pray to seek God’s guidance. We live in a confusing world, and there are many voices competing for our attention. Often, it is hard to know which way to go and what path to follow. As we pray to God, we can find His guidance for our lives.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 25:5, NIV).

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end (Psalm 48:14, NIV).

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16, NIV).

We should pray because God will answer. God does not always answer prayer exactly the way we want Him to. He is not a cosmic Santa Claus, handing out free toys and gifts to whoever asks. Sometimes He may say no; sometimes He may ask us to wait. But He does answer every prayer of his children.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV).

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer (Psalm 17:6, NIV).

On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many (2 Corinthians 1:10b-11, NIV).

These are all very good reasons to pray. Of course, some of us may be motivated to pray but not know how. We may not be asking why we should pray, but, “How should I pray?”

In our prayers, God is not as much concerned with our techniques or the specific words we use as He is with the attitudes of our hearts. So what should our attitude be in prayer?

We should be humble in prayer. Prayer is not a matter of telling God what to do, as if He were our child or obedient pet. Prayer is open and honest communication with God, and it should be characterized by profound and heartfelt humility on our part as we come into the presence of the Almighty.

He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34, NIV).

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6, NIV).

You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty (Psalm 18:27, NIV)

We should praise God in prayer. Not only should we humble ourselves, but we should also exalt God. That is, we should fully acknowledge the great position that God holds as King of the Universe. Acknowledging who God is and praising Him for His perfections are essential aspects of prayer.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place (I Chronicles 16: 25-27, NIV).

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts (Psalm 145:2-5, NIV).

We should confess and repent in prayer. Because we are sinners and God is holy, we need to be cleansed of our guilt before we can enter His presence. Thankfully, Jesus has provided for our cleansing by shedding His shed blood on the cross. As we come before God in prayer, we need to confess our sins and repent of them, trusting in God’s grace and the blood of Jesus to cleanse us.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9, NIV).

When they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, `We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy; for they are your people and your inheritance (I Kings 8:46-51, NIV).

We should seek God’s will in prayer. Some people view prayer as an exercise in getting God to conform His will to ours—to endorse our agendas, answer our requests. While it is certainly right and proper for us to bring our heart-felt requests before God, the primary purpose of prayer is NOT to conform God’s will to our, but to conform our will to His. Remember what Jesus prayed in the garden, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name (Psalm 86:11).

Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands (Psalm 119:66).

This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).