Why Pray?

June 01, 2023

Why Pray?

Why Pray? I’ve seen the frustrated Twitter and other social media posts aggravated with the offer of prayer. A tragedy happens and we see the internet light up with “Pray for_____" posts.

Yet, among the people that see the power behind that request, are the people who say “What good is that? We have to DO something”.

For the Christian, praying is supposed to be second nature. When we can no longer stand, we fall to our knees.

But where did we learn this act of faith? As always we have only to turn to scripture to see the roots of this understanding.

Paul tells us clearly, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”-Philippians 4:6-7

Our prayer time brings us peace. Not just any peace, but the peace of God.

If we need to follow the example of anyone we can follow Jesus and how he made prayer a priority.

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

-Mark 1:35

We pray for various reasons; for clarity, peace, healing, strength,..(the list is really endless) and in doing that we have Gods promise that our prayers are not in vein.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”-1 John 5:14-15

Prayer tells God that we trust him. Prayer builds our faith. Prayer sets things into motion beyond our understanding. Prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do.

Yet…do we?

There may be times when our initial thoughts in a crisis are that prayer just isn’t enough. Maybe we don’t feel like we’re really “doing” anything.

Jesus’ followers watched as he ascended into heaven. Then two angels came and told them that Jesus would come again the same way that they saw him go.

Could you imagine their excitement? Could you imagine how they all would have wanted to go tell everyone about this incredible event? This would have been a fantastic time to go out and start their mission!

But instead of going out in that moment and "doing"…they did what Jesus told them to do.

Jesus told them to go back to Jerusalem and wait.

Wait.

Wait?

Can you imagine spontaneous, excitable Peter? Wait?

But they did just that. They waited in the upper room and prayed for 10 days.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer.”-Acts 1:14

In this time of prayer a movement of the Spirit began and the Holy Spirit was poured out on them at the day of Pentecost.

Wonders flowed and miracles happened.

This is what Jesus meant when he said “Follow me”. Follow my ways, do what I do, prioritize what I prioritize.

I’ve heard prayer described as “Turning the key in the gates of heaven.”

So the next time you have the fleeting thought that prayer just won’t be enough, picture yourself turning the key in the gates of heaven and the doors opening wide to set forth incredible things that you couldn’t even imagine.

Prayer does that. In my own life I’ve learned that the things I pray for don’t compare to the blessings that God sends.