Biblical Answers to Life’s Tough Questions: Why Pray?
Phil 4:6-7
People have asked the question before, “What is the point in prayer?”. Their argument is that, if by praying we can change God’s mind, then He isn’t sovereign. If he doesn’t change His mind, then He is superfluous.
Many people come to the conclusion that prayer isn’t necessary, or fruitful, after a prayer they have presented to God has gone, in their thoughts, unanswered.
We have all prayed for things that did not happen. I will with all confidence state that we have prayed for individuals to be healed - and not by going on to Heaven, but rather healed here in this life - that did not survive an illness or an injury.
We have prayed for guidance in situations and it has seemed at times, God was silent.
We have prayed for help and had the feeling we were standing all alone.
We have prayed, and yet it seemed to no avail.
How many will be honest enough to raise your hand this morning and say, “Yes Pastor, I’ve been there.”?
This morning, I hope, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to answer some questions regarding why we as God’s people should pray.
Before I begin providing answers as to why we pray, I want to give you reasons why some prayers seem to go unanswered. I want to assure you, your prayers are always answered. Sometimes, not necessarily the way we would like, but they are always answered. Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God’s will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.
Why prayers seem unanswered
We may ask amiss.
James reminds us of this very fact in 4:3 “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
Sometimes, our fleshly desires consume us, and we ask for things for reasons that would appeal to our senses.
For example, maybe I pray God will give me a brand new house, or a brand new truck. God realizes I need a home and transportation, so that’s not a bad thing to ask, right? Yes, I need these things, but do I really need a brand new one? God provides a need by enabling me to live in an older home and have a nice used truck.
Another example is that we pray for God to heal a loved one. We have faith that God is more than able to heal all sickness - His word tells us this, but we also must realize that we all have an appointed time to leave this world. Sure, we would love to have our family and friends with us until the time of rapture, but every once in a while, God chooses to heal them ultimately by bringing them on home with Him. This seems, to some, to be an unanswered prayer because we did not get the answer we wanted. We wanted an answer that would appeal to our senses and desires, but God knows what is best for each individual.
At times, God delays to receive higher glory.
It seems that sometimes, God intentionally waits when we pray so He is able to do something better.
John 11:1-4 tells us a story of Christ delaying a response. 1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Mary and Martha were upset and felt that Jesus had failed them by not answering their prayer of coming to heal Lazerus. The reality is that He wanted to do something even greater. He wanted to prove He had the power over death. Remember what the prophet Isaiah said in 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
Sometimes, God tests our faith.
James reminds us in 1:3-4 that the trying of our faith brings about patience. That patience makes us entire and perfect, wanting nothing.
James is talking about trials here, and we all pray that God would remove trials from our lives or us from the trial. Sometimes, God allows us to go through things just so we trust Him more and realize that, while He may not have removed the trial or us from the trial, “His grace is sufficient for us, because His strength is made perfect in our weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9
So, Why Pray?
We are told to do so.
I know this is a simple answer, but it is a powerful one. God has instructed us to pray, so we need to pray.
God has a purpose for everything He instructs us to do, and because of that, we must realize prayer has a significant purpose since God instructed us to do so. I realize that sounds redundant, but it reminds me of when my kids ask me why they have do do something and my response is because I said so.
I believe that if we ask God why we need to pray, he would likely say because I said so.
We want to be obedient in all things, or we should want to at least. So this should be no exception.
The word “pray” or “prayer” is mentioned 547 times in the KJV of the bible.
If Christ took time to teach his followers how to pray, I believe it holds pretty high significance.
Why pray? Because God told us to.
It is a time to communicate with God.
I’ve mentioned this before, but reading the word of God is His time to talk to us. Us spending time in prayer is our time to talk to Him.
It is an intimate time between Heavenly Father and child to just ‘talk’. During prayer, we can relay our worries, our fears, ask for advice and direction, seek for wisdom and understanding, ask God for forgiveness and help, strength and provision - prayer is a power moment for you to just talk to a God who loves you!
It is our means for obtaining solutions to life’s problems.
When we go to God in prayer, we can seek for direction in major decisions we must make, for strength to overcome demonic barriers, for workers for the harvest, strength to overcome temptations, even the strength to help others.
In Luke 6, Christ went away to pray as He prepared to call the 12 disciples.
In Matt. 17, a man came to Christ with concerns over his son who was possessed.
In Luke 10, Jesus states we should pray to the Lord of the harvest because the laborers are few while the harvest is plenteous.
In Mt. 26, Jesus instructs his disciples to pray so they do not fall into temptation because their spirit was willing, but their flesh was weak.
In Eph 6, we are encouraged to pray in the Spirit so we can help preserve one another and that those sharing the gospel operate boldly and explain the scripture.
There are countless other times where prayer is the solution to life’s problems. We must understand that God is infinitely wise, so He has a solution to every problem we face.
Furthermore, we have a high priest who faced everything we faced. In other words, He’s been there, done that. He can guide and direct us, if we only trust Him. We just have to humble ourselves down enough to pray for guidance and help.
Prayer is a form of worshiping God.
In Luke 2:26-38, we see the prayer of Simeon to God upon seeing the promised Messiah. This was him giving worship to God for what he was experiencing.
David penned Psalms worship in the form of prayers for things God had done.
Miriam sang a song of worship in the form of a prayer to God.
Moses sang a song of worship in the form of a prayer to God.
Prayer is a time when we can truly worship God intimately for the things He has done, but also worship Him in acknowledging our absolute dependency and need for Him.
Conclusion
I am going to leave you with this in response to the question, Why Pray. As I mention these, I want you to hold up your hand and bring a finger up for each one I mention.
Prayer serves 5 basic purposes:
Worship: Prayer is a way to recognize God for who he is and what he has done.
Strengthening relationships: Prayer can help develop a relationship with God and feel his love.
Finding direction: Prayer can help with difficult decisions and finding peace.
Avoiding temptation: Prayer can help overcome temptations to sin.
Expressing gratitude: Prayer can be a way to thank God.
This sums up why we pray on a single hand.
