Why pray?

[SullivanZ]

Why do you pray?

 

[sunlover1]

1. Because God says to pray without ceasing and God should get what God wants.
2. Because I believe that prayer is what causes God to move in a situation.
3. Because where else can I go? Who else do I have? He is my first love. My Father,
Abba, my Friend, my Bridegroom, my Peace, my Provider, my Master, my Banner,
my Healer, my Rock and my Everything! Nothing compares to Him.................

 

[Thekla]

It is a form of interaction with someone I love ...

 

[Yab Yum]

To say thank you.

 

[Isolation]

because i am unable to do anything on my own

 

[tturt]

cause the Bible tells me so.

 

[SullivanZ]

So I should pray because the Bible says so, even though it does nothing?

Just clarifying.

 

[Hammster]

Because my Daddy likes to talk to me, and I to Him.

 

[Thekla]

Does it do nothing to talk to your loved ones in love ?

 

[MamaZ]

I pray because it is conversing with my Father.

 

[Walter Kovacs]

I enjoy talking to God. But I don't necessarily view prayer as only a single kind of act. All of life for the Christian should be a prayer.

 

[Drax]

So I should pray because the Bible says so, even though it does nothing?

Just clarifying.

It does much.

 

[SullivanZ]

I agree that prayer should be more than just asking for stuff.

It should be a discussion and interaction with God.

And there are also prayers of thanksgiving and praise, too.

I'm not denying that. I guess the real question is more, why pray prayers of petition?

 

[Walter Kovacs]

why pray prayers of petition?

Jesus told us to.

 

[Dorothea]

It is a form of interaction with someone I love ...

To become closer to Him.

 

[SullivanZ]

Jesus told us to.

I love Jesus, but this is not a good enough answer for me.

Can't you think for yourself?

I need to understand the principle behind WHY someone asks me to do something.

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Can't you think for yourself?

Jesus is God. I claim Him as my Lord, Savior and King. Anything He asks, I do. Period. I don't need a reason. It's nice. But unnecessary.

I need to understand the principle behind WHY someone asks me to do something.

He tells you why.

 

[Bible2]

SullivanZ said:

I guess the real question is more, why pray prayers of petition?

SullivanZ said:

Why do you pray?

Because of verses such as the following:

"... ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2b).

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11). "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13).

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-8).

SullivanZ said:

So I should pray because the Bible says so, even though it does nothing?

In order for our prayers to be answered, we must not "ask amiss, that we may consume it upon our lusts" (cf. James 4:3b). Before we pray, we must make sure that we've repented from all of our sins (Hebrews 10:26-29) and done all that we can to make peace with every person we've ever harmed and who could still be holding a grudge against us (Matthew 5:23-26, Romans 12:18, Acts 24:16, Hebrews 12:14). Also, we must make sure that we've completely forgiven every person who has ever harmed us (Matthew 6:15).

Also, when we pray for something we must pray for it with an unwavering faith (James 1:6-7) and with an unwavering perseverance (Luke 18:1-8). Also, we must actually be obeying God in our lives (1 John 3:22). Also, what we ask for must be according to God's will (1 John 5:14). In our praying, we must be willing to put aside our own will and seek God's will in all things (Luke 22:42, Matthew 6:10, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Deuteronomy 3:25-26).

 

[SullivanZ]

In order for our prayers to be answered, we must not "ask amiss, that we may consume it upon our lusts" (cf. James 4:3b). Before we pray, we must make sure that we've repented from all of our sins (Hebrews 10:26-29) and done all that we can to make peace with every person we've ever harmed and who could still be holding a grudge against us (Matthew 5:23-26, Romans 12:18, Acts 24:16, Hebrews 12:14). Also, we must make sure that we've completely forgiven every person who has ever harmed us (Matthew 6:15).

Also, when we pray for something we must pray for it with an unwavering faith (James 1:6-7) and with an unwavering perseverance (Luke 18:1-8). Also, we must actually be obeying God in our lives (1 John 3:22). Also, what we ask for must be according to God's will (1 John 5:14). In our praying, we must be willing to put aside our own will and seek God's will in all things (Luke 22:42, Matthew 6:10, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Deuteronomy 3:25-26).

Okay so it's basically IMPOSSIBLE to have prayer answered then? (Based off of what you're telling me here.) Because no one could completely fulfill all of that, all of the time.

 

[Davidnic]

Prayer is many things. Prayer is, first and foremost, relationship. It is our relationship with God and our endeavor to get closer to Him so we can Worship Him, Love Him, discern His will, gain comfort, seek answers....all of the things relationship here on earth imperfectly mirrors.

The point of prayer is not to change the mind of God, but to change ourselves into being closer and more one with God through our relationship with Him.

There are (and I will speak as a Catholic since I am one) a few types of prayer. Many times they are phrased differently but generally they are grouped: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Most people, when they talk about prayer speak about prayers of supplication (also called prayers of petition) where we ask for things. Many, confused and curious about this type, will ask: If God is perfect and has decided that something will go a specific way then why ask for Him to change it? If He knows all and best and does what is best then a prayer can not change what will happen.

And in essence this is both true and a misunderstanding of why we offer a supplication prayer. We ask God for what we want precisely because we trust Him and place our trust in the fact that He will do all that is good. And we ask for what we desire and desire for our will to mirror His in seeking that good. And we ask for what is good, as best as we can understand.

This is part of relationship. We should not abandon that relationship in apathy by thinking that because God knows what to do already we do not need to ask. Christ told us to ask of the Father. And we do so in trust of God as our Father.

But prayer is about changing us into the fullness of who we are made to be by our relationship with God. It is about entering into His life and letting that life be our life.

Now, we trust God brings good from evil...so we ask for healing from disease, the lifting of sorrow and the relief of our ills or the ills of others. Because we trust in His goodness. And the trial of our relationship is that when we do not get good as we see it...we need to seek the good God is bringing from suffering and trial. We need to rely on the trust in that relationship with the source of all good to guide us even in great pain and grief....and for many, anger at God. It is at that time that prayer is even more importantly viewed as relationship...because it is only in entering into that relationship that we can seek and find comfort.

Perhaps the good God is bringing out of a particular suffering is that we come to Him in trust and ask...and that deepens our relationship with Him. I can not say. I can not say why some prayers (like miraculous healing) seem to be answered prayers and others are not.

I can only say I trust God will do the greatest good and bring good from where misused human free will and the consequences of it oppose His plan.