Why do we pray? (Do you pray?) Do we look upon prayer as a tiresome obligation, a "get out of jail free card" to be used when we get in trouble, or some kind of cosmic wish list? The Bible teaches us that prayer is a great blessing, and a means of receiving all the blessings that we need from God. Consider the following examples of why we pray.
1. For Forgiveness of Sins. David expounds upon the joy of forgiveness in Psalm 32. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (v. 1). Indeed, there is no greater blessing than to know that God, out of His mercy and grace, has forgiven us of our sins; knowing that our souls, once blackened by sin, have been washed clean. David goes on to say that this blessing came to him through prayer: "I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin" (v. 5). Praying for the forgiveness of sins is a blessing given only to children of God (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9). Those who are not yet Christians must obey the gospel in order for their sins to be forgiven (Acts 2:38).
2. For the Benefit of Others. Intercessory prayer is a great blessing. The apostle Paul often spoke of how he mentioned others in his prayers (Rom. 1:9; 1 Cor. 1:4; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2). What a blessing it was to these individuals to know that Paul was praying for them. James tells us to pray for one another (James 5:16). Paul tells us to pray for our rulers (1 Tim. 2:2). Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies (Matt. 5:44). What can we do for others? We can always pray for others.
3. To Cast Our Cares Upon the Lord. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." (James 4:8). There is no reason for us to bear our burdens and troubles alone. God cares for us and has provided a way for us to cast our burdens away from ourselves. This is done through prayer.
4. To Express Gratitude. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6). Among other things, our prayers need to include thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for, including the answers to previous prayers. Why do we send "Thank You" cards? A heart that has truly been touched by kindness wants to express gratitude. Doing such is a blessing in itself. No one has shown us more kindness than our Creator. Prayer is an opportunity to give Him thanks. A failure to express gratitude towards God is one of the first steps that man takes away from God (Rom. 1:21).
5. To Receive the Peace of God. Paul continues, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7). We all need this peace which surpasses all understanding. We need it to guard our hearts and minds from the sin and heartache in this world. Many people in the world are looking for this peace. They are trying to find it in financial stability, relationships, stature, and self-worth. Some turn to drugs and alcohol to find a way to cope with the stresses of life. Others explore mysticism, philosophy, or new age teachings to find peace. The Bible says that the child of God will find peace through prayer.
6. To Find Mercy and Grace in Time of Need. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16). Situations arise from time to time in our lives when we really need strength. The winds blow, the waves beat against the boat, we don't know if we are going to make it safely to the other side, and we cry out, "Lord, save us!" God has promised that His grace is there for us during such times, if we will but ask for it.
Conclusion: Prayer is not a grueling obligation nor a mindless routine. Prayer is the opportunity for us to express our hearts unto our Heavenly Father. However, prayer is not to be taken so lightly that it turns into a "wish list" or is neglected altogether. Prayer is a great blessing to the faithful child of God. It is the avenue through which God has seen fit to bestow upon us some of the greatest blessing that we will know in this life.
"Men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). Do you and I pray as we ought?