Why Pray?

One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that God wants us
to talk to Him about everything that is going on in our lives, even
though He already knows everything. So why pray?

If you’ve ever wrestled with that question, perhaps the thoughts of the
19th-century preacher R. A. Torrey can help. Among the reasons he gave
for prayer are these:

* Because there is a devil, and prayer is a God-appointed way to
resist Him (Eph. 6:12-13, 18).

* Because prayer is God’s way for us to obtain what we need from
Him (Luke 11:3-13; Jas. 4:2).

* Because prayer is the means God has appointed for us to find
“grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

* Because prayer with thanksgiving is God’s way for us to obtain
freedom from anxiety and to receive “the peace of God” (Phil. 4:6-7).

Besides these reasons, it’s enough to read the command in

1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing,” and realize that God wants
us to talk with Him. Yes, He is all-knowing, but He also desires our
fellowship.

When we seek God’s face in prayer, we strengthen our
relationship with Him. That’s the most important reason to pray. —JDB

Our Daily Bread, November 25, 1998