Why Pray?

 

In the beginning, God gave His creation (mankind), something called “free will.” The ability to make decisions on our own—to decide whether to do something or not. While we often think about free will in terms of making moral choices, have you thought about free will in terms of making moral choices? Have you thought about free will in terms of your prayer life? Listen to James 4:2b-3:

You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

This text reveals a vital fact—we choose to communicate with God or choose not to! He will not intervene where we do not want Him. So why should we choose to pray? What reasons are there?

1.     To Seek The Face of The Lord

a.      Psalms 27:8

When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

“Face”–His Presence. The New Living Translation says: “Come and talk with me. And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.””

b.     God wants us to seek His face so we can come to really know Him. To have a deeper relationship with Him, a closer, more intimate one. This seeking is to be done with all of our heart and soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29:

²⁹ But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

2.     To Unburden Your Heart

a.      Psalm 142:1-2:

¹ I cry out to the Lord with my voice;

With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication

² I pour out my complaint before Him;

I declare before Him my trouble.

It is such a huge relief to give God our troubles, to release them to Him.

b.     Tell Him what is weighing your heart down. 1 Peter 5:7: casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

3.     To Be Free of Suffering

a.      James 5:13a: Is anyone among you suffering?

Suffering may come from many sources–mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

b.     King David prayed to God for forgiveness.

Psalm 30:10-12:

¹⁰ Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
Lord, be my helper!”

¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
¹² To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

c.      God rescued the Israelites from their distress. Psalm 107:19-20:

¹⁹ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
²⁰ He sent His word and healed them.

4.     To Resist Temptation

a.      One reason to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer is to ask God for help in resisting temptation. Matthew 26:38-41:

³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Note-Matthew 6:13:

¹³ And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Lead us away from tempting circumstances. Also, be reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:13:

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

b.     Deliver from evil–pray to the Lord. He will help you withstand evil. Ephesians 6:13:

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Satan is the great deceiver–he is sly and cunning, desiring to devour you.

5.     To Enjoy Life

a.      John 16:24:

²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Pray to God that you will have a joy-filled life. Psalm 21:6:

⁶ For You have made him most blessed forever;
You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.

b.     Philippians 4:6-7:

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, ⁷ andthe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This peace comes from God as a result of your prayer.

It is a privilege to speak to God and know He listens. 1 Peter 3:12:

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

The one who prays is blessed. Proverbs 8:32-34:

³² “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.

And rewarded. Matthew 6:6:

⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

When we pray:

1.     Tell the Lord how much you love Him.

2.     Thank him for all He has done for you.

3.     State how dependent you are upon Him.

4.     Tell Him everything that is in your heart.

5.     Confess anything that is in your heart.

6.     Give Him all your requests.

7.     Praise Him for working in your life.

“Don’t leave your life to chance.”

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