Why Should I Pray?

“Because you have prayed to Me . . . I have heard”- 2 Kings 19:20

 

Why should I pray? Some people say God has set everything in stone ahead of time. Will my prayers really make a difference? What’s the use of praying to God if He has already decided everything beforehand? It’s true that one of God’s attributes is immutability which means God does not change. And yet, we see people praying and God calling us to pray throughout the Bible. There must be something to it. What? Why should I pray?

The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write:

Isaiah 55:6-11 – Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. ⁷Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. ⁸  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ⁹   “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰  “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

These words urge us to seek the Lord. They urge us to seek the Lord “while He may be found.’ That implies there is a time when God can be found and when someone can’t find God. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him.” That speaks of repentance or turning from our sins to God. Later in Isaiah 59:1-2 we are told that it isn’t that God’s arm is too short to reach us, but that our sins have separated us from Him. Those who persist in their rejection of God and their sins are destined for an eternity of rot and torment. The final verse of the Book of Isaiah speaks of, “the corpses of men who have transgressed against me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24). Jesus refers to this verse in speaking of hell (Mark 9:42-48). Sin leads to hell. Prayer is how we can be saved from such a destiny. Let me explain.

Prayer our first step toward God. Isaiah 53:6 states the human problem succinctly, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” On whom was our sin laid? On Jesus! When we admit or confess our sins to God, and ask His forgiveness based on trusting Jesus as our sin-barer, the LORD promises to forgive us, to pardon us, and give us spiritual life. When we trust Jesus as Savior God saves us from hell to heaven. It is through prayer that we deal with sin that separates us from God. Yes, a prayer is our first step toward connecting with God.

Prayer is a means of grace. That God provides a prayerful channel of communication with humanity is an expression of His grace. Prayer is not a work of our own. We wouldn’t pray unless God beckoned to us and offered an opportunity to pray to him (John 6:44). Prayer is more God offering to speak with us than it is us desiring to speak with Him. God created us. God spoke first. All we can do is answer in prayer.

Personal prayer. It is through our personal prayer time with God that we learn His thoughts and way of thinking is far above our thinking. God has a different set of priorities than we do. Our priorities usually have to do with life here and now. God’s priorities for us are eternal. God uses this life to prepare us for the next. That means some of the things we think are indispensable now are expendable to God in His long view. We often ask God to help us meet the cost of things. God has promised to provide for us (Matthew 6:25-34). But while He provides, He does so according to His eternal priorities. God provides in a way that builds our faith.

What this means is that God sometimes allows us to go through trials and wants and needs because they build our faith in Him (1 Peter 1:6-9). God doesn’t always answer instantly at our beck and call. Sometimes He waits in the silence to teach us to listen (Psalm 42 and 46). We focus on the end results overlooking the journey to our destination. For God, the journey, the means to ends, are just a s important as the ends. It is on life’s journey to our goals that God prepares us for the completion of what God is doing.

Prayer and the word of God. A lesson I learned early in my walk with the LORD is that, when I pray I speak with God, but when I read God’s word He speaks to me. Isaiah 55 tells us God waters us, He refreshes us, with His word. There is a “washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). Whenever you pray, bring your Bible. Prayer is our microphone to speak, but the Bible is our receiver to hear.

In prayer we speak to God, but it is through the Bible that God speaks to us. And His word isn’t empty. God’s word accomplishes or brings the message God intends to bring. If we don’t hear His message maybe its because we have shut our spiritual ears to hear it. If we aren’t getting the message, maybe it is because we are listening with ears of flesh rather than a heart cleansed by God’s word. Prayerfully pour over the word of God until it unclogs your spiritual ears and washes away the callouses and dirt from your heart. Persist in prayer with God’s word.

Prayer helps us know God. Prayer is God’s means to teach us about Himself. Prayer to God is the forum in which we come to Him to deal with our sin that separates us from Him. When we prayerfully look at His word we discover through the lives of Biblical figures that God speaks to people. God is not aloof or distant and uninvolved with His creation. God communicates with  people in the Bible by an ongoing prayerful interaction between people and God.

Abraham was called by God to leave his home. Abraham believed God and obediently followed where He led. Because of Abrahams’s belief in God, He accounted him righteous or in a right relationship with God (Genesis 15:6). Abraham is a model of saving faith in scripture (Romans 4).

Faith in God has always been the basis for relating to God (e.g., Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17). This has always been God’s plan. He could have scrapped humanity when they first sinned against Him, but He chose to redeem them through a very personal prayerful plan. God passed over the sins of people who had faith in Him until Jesus, on the cross, actually paid the  redemption price for sin (romans 3:25-26). The wages of sin is death, Jesus paid that debt of sin when He died for us (Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Faith in God gives life to our prayers.

Our prayer of salvation from sin through faith in Jesus provides us an example of the nature of God’s immutability. Every prayerful act of repentance brings a change in God’s judgment toward a person. God is immutably merciful to the one who repents and believes in Jesus. God desires all people to repent and spend eternity with Him (2 Peter 3:9). Every time someone surrenders to God through faith in Jesus, God forgives. God is faithful.

Our prayer is not so much about us as it is God working to bring us home to Himself. We work all this out with “fear and trembling,” but really, “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Prayer is simply God’s provided means to connect us to His gracious provision.

Prayer for others. Praying for others is called intercession. The greatest priority when we pray for others is that they be saved from their sins. God foreknows all who will repent and turn to Him and be saved. The Holy Spirit draws sinners to God by convicting them of their sins and need of God (John 16:8-11). Moses interceded on behalf of the people of God who had greatly sinned against God (Exodus 31-32; Numbers 14:1-25). Samuel interceded on behalf of the people of Israel who rejected God as their King (1 Samuel 5-7). Job, at God’s instruction, prayed for his dimwitted friends (Job 42:8-10). Jesus prayed for His disciples and for us (John 17).

Praying for others is important. Indeed the judge and prophet Samuel commented, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you. . .” (1 Samuel 12:23). Loving God with all our heart is our supreme calling, the first and greatest Commandment (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30). But loving our neighbor is the second greatest Commandment (Leviticus 19:18; Marak 12:31). Praying to God on behalf of our neighbor is the first step of fulfilling such love.

But Why Should We Pray?

Here I will provide you with an assignment in prayer. Below are reasons for us to pray as well as scripture references. Get alone with God and pray. Pray for a renewed season of prayer in your life. Pray the Lord gives you a hunger to pray. Pray God helps you to put your desire to pray into practice. Pray and meet with God about your prayer life.

1. God invites us to call on Him in prayer – Psalm 50:15; Isaah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:12-13; 33:3.
2. Praying helps us to not lose heart – Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12.
3. Praying wakes us up – Luke 22:46.
4. Praying replaces anxiety with God’s peace – Philippians 4:6-7.
5. Praying is a big part of being a Christian – 1 Timothy 2:8.
6. Praying is a service to God – Luke 2:36-38.
7. Praying is a pattern set by the early Church – Acts 1:14; 2:1, 42; etc.
8. The Apostle Paul prayed – Acts 9:10-11; 16:25, Romans 10:1, etc.
9. Praying is one of our main means to defeat the devil – Luke 22:31-32; Ephesians 6:10-18.
10. Praying strengthens us spiritually – Jude 20-24.
11. Praying is God’s means to add laborers to ministry – Matthew 9:38.
12. Praying is used for healing – James 5:13-15.
13. Prayer is used by God to accomplish the impossible – Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:29; Acts 12:5-7; James 5:17-18.
14. Praying is God’s means of requesting things of Him – Matthew 7:7-11.
15. Praying is how we receive wisdom from God – James 1:2-5.
16. Praying is how we receive the Holy Spirit – Luke 11:9-13.
17. Praying glorifies God – Revelation 5:8-10; 8:2-4.

 

Jesus prays. Probably the greatest reason we should pray is because Jesus prays and we are to follow His example (John 13:14-15; Romans 8:29; 1 Petr 2:21; 1 John 2:6).  Jesus’ life was filled with prayer. Jesus prayed in the morning (Mark 1:35; 6:46). Jesus prayed for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22; John 14:16). Jesus prayed in the wilderness (Luke 5:16). He prayed all night (Luke 6:12). Jesus prayed alone (Luke 9:18; Mark 1:35). He prayed at His Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-29). Jesus prayed contagiously, attractively; in a way that caused others to want to pray (Luke 11:1-2). Jesus prays for our protection from the enemy and perseverance (Luke 22:31-32; John 17:15), for God’s will to be done (Mark 14:35). Jesus prayed repeatedly, persistently (Mark 14:39). Jesus prayed in His greatest time of need (Heb.5:7; Luke 22:44). Yes, Jesus prayed. If the Son of Man, the Son of God, God in the flesh, prayed, how much more should we pray?

Jesus is praying for us RIGHT NOW! Did you know that? Jesus said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” (John 17:20). Later in the New Testament it states of Jesus, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Think about that. Pray about that. Jesus is praying for you and for me right now. When we go to prayer, Jesus is waiting! That’s incredible.

Jesus is knocking. A portion of scripture which is often misinterpreted and misapplied is Revelation 3:20 which states:

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

The context of this verse is a letter written by Jesus to the church in Laodicea. Jesus tells this church they are lukewarm, they have a take-it-or-leave-it attitudes toward Him and the things of God. That makes Him sick to His stomach. His exact words in response to their tepidness are, “Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).

Why was this church lukewarm? Jesus said it was because their focus was on their personal wealth. They felt like they didn’t need anything (Revelation 3:17). Jesus told them they needed to dig deeper (Revelation 3:18). Jesus was telling them this because He loved them (Revelation 3:19). It was then that Jesus stated the words of verse twenty. Verse twenty was written to the Church! Jesus is knocking o the doors of the Church. Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart.

Leonard Ravenhill a prophetic voice of the twentieth century once commented:

“One wonders why this is such an isolated experience in the Church today. True prayer is Spirit-born. True prayer is praying ‘in the Holy Ghost.’ Those filled with the Spirit are filled with prayer. There is something very questionable and unbiblical about those who claim a baptism of the Spirit and yet know nothing of extended periods in prayer. I am sure Jesus prayed before the Spirit descended upon Him at the Jordan, though there is no record of it. . .. We are in a tough spiritual battle these days. Yet the church that prays will be a prevailing church. Praying in secret means prevailing in public. . .. Revival can be brought to this generation by prayer, by faith, by cleansing, and by obedience to the will of God.” [1]

So maybe instead of asking “Why should I pray?” we should be asking, “What’s your spiritual temperature?” Your prayer life is a good indicator of your spiritual temperature. Prayer is a declaration of dependence upon God. But prayerlessness is a declaration of independence from God. Revelation 3:20 can be used for evangelistic invitations to salvation. But its primary use is Jesus’ offer to those already in the Church. Jesus is knocking on the door of your life. He’s offering to come and meet with you in prayerful fellowship. He is knocking. Will you answer His call?

Why pray? Because God commands us to pray. Because the Bible is filled with reasons to pray. Because the early church that turned the world upside down prayed. Because when we pray, things happen.

I want to conclude this study by referring to the power of prayer in the life of a faithful king. It’s a relevant passage given th state of our nation. We may win wars and make strides politically. We may clean up corruption and make America great against economically. But unless the heart of this nation is changed and looks to the God of the Bible, change will be short lived and have no eternal true value. That means we need to pray. We need to pray for our churches. We need to pray for our pastors. We need to pray for our nation and those in public service. We need to pray for our president. Let me show you why.

In the Old Testament faithful King Hezekiah was used by God to turn the southern kingdom of Judah around. His father Ahaz had been one of the wickedest kings in history. Ahaz was so wicked that when he died he wasn’t even buried in the royal tombs (2 Chron. 28:27). Evil Ahaz worshipped pagan idols which often involved immoral practices as well as human sacrifice (2 Chron. 28:3). He brought pagan idolatry right into the holy City of Jerusalem. Idols were worshipped on every street corner (2 Chron. 28:24-25). Ahaz stripped the Temple to indulge in worship of pagan gods (2 Chron. 29:7). By the time Hezekiah came to power the nation was a disgrace.

As soon as Hezekiah came to power he began to work toward bringing a revival to the nation. He covenanted with the Lord for national repentance (2 Chron. 29:8-10). He immediately saw to it that the Temple was cleaned up, and worship reinstituted (2 Chron. 29:25-26). He provided a massive worship service to honor God (2 Chron. 29-30). He got the priests back in order (2 Chron. 31). There was a mighty revival in the land.

But the story doesn’t end there. Revival and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have trouble. After the revival, Sennacherib, king of Assyria came against Judah with a massive army that far outnumbered and out equipped anything that Judah had. What made things worse was that the Assyrians were a terrorist army that tortured and physically marred their enemies. It was a frightening situation.

What did the king do when faced with this dilemma? Hezekiah didn’t pout and think that because he had done the right thing he should be exempted from trouble. No, he turned to God for help by prayer. He kneeled before God and then stood up to the Assyrian army stating courageously that the power he had was greater than this massive military. He had God on his side (2 Chron. 32:7-8). He was filled with courage through prayer.

How did Hezekiah have such courage? He had courage because He tapped into the power of God by prayer. Hezekiah and his compatriot prophet Isaiah went to God in prayer. And when in the presence of God by prayer, the Lord said, “Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.” (2 Kings 19:20b). GOD HEARS WHEN WE PRAY! That’s why we should pray! When God hears, He acts. Yes, prayer made the difference between defeat and victory, death and life, extermination, and continuation.

What was the outcome? God sent His angel, a single solitary angel, in the night, and  that single angel wiped out 185,000 Assyrian soldiers by morning’s light (2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chron. 32:21; Isaiah 37:36). God protected and delivered Hezekiah and Judah through prayer. Prayers move the hand that moves the world. That’s why we pray!

Some might say “Why pray?” My response, “Why not pray?” Given what we’ve learned, you’d be foolish not to pray! Prayer should be our first choice and regular practice. Prayer changes things. Prayer brings the hand of God to bear in everyday life. Prayers moves the hand that moves the world. “Because you prayed to Me . . . I have heard.” That’s why we should pray.

Father in Heaven, we come to You in Jesus’ name. Please help us to pray. Please cleanse our heart and renew our mind so that we pray more. Help us to make prayer a priority. Holy Spirit help us to pray. Jesus, help us to follow Your example of prayer. LORD, please make us what we need to be, to do what You call us to do, for Your glory, until Jesus’ return. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

 

[1] Leonard Ravenhill, Revival Praying, Bloomington MN: Bethany House Pub., 2005. P 175, 176.