Have you ever wondered, ” Why Should I Pray if God Knows Everything ?”
If so, you are not alone.
You see, I grew up in the church and I too struggled with this question. I was that child who would ask questions of that nature in Sunday school.
Like the time I asked the Sunday school teacher “Why hadn’t God answered my prayer about giving my family a bigger house which we desperately needed?”
Or “why hasn’t my dad attended church even though they regularly prayed for his attendance?”
And as I got older, I had another question: “Why should I pray when God doesn’t answer?… What was the point?”
But while I challenged the purpose of prayer, I did pray. I prayed because at times I did not know what else to do. So I prayed hoping it would work, that I would get an answer.
However, I have learned the true purpose of prayer. I have learned that prayer is personal and it has more to do with who we are becoming than what we are asking for in prayer.
A perfect example; in my personal life, is that time I was in prayer about my finances. I was seeking God to get out of a mountain of debt that I had accumulated. I prayed and waited for God’s answer to come to me in the form a big win or some miraculous money giveaway . But that’s not what happened.
Instead, God was dealing with the issues that got me into debt in the first place–poor money management and habits that I had created. He started changing my spending habits and my reliance on credit cards. And my bad habit of applying for credit just to save a couple of dollars. God had to first deal with the habits that got me into debt in order to get me out and keep me out. He had to create in me, new habits that were responsible and prudent in spending, saving, and giving.
It took me a very long time to understand the the things I asked for in prayer allowed God to mold me into the person He needed me to become.
If you have ever wondered … ” Why should I Pray ? “…
Here are 5 Reasons Why you should pray :
1. Prayer is God calling us.
…to commune, fellowship, and guide us into a relationship with Him similar to that of a parent and child. It’s what make our connection with God personal. In fact, our desire to pray is always an invitation from God.
Pray to worship Him (Psalm 95:6-7).
2. Prayer is God listening to us.
Not only does God call us to prayer, but while in prayer God is listening to us. Not just words we express, but the emotions behind them. God is listening to our hearts in prayer so that we can fully embrace His answer.
Pray acknowledging He is God, and that you accept His gracious gift, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior (Genesis 17:1, Romans 6:16-18).
3. Prayer brings preparation.
Sometimes we pray for things we are not quite ready for. Prayer prepares us.
Sometimes it is through prayer that we can successfully approach some of life’s most difficult events. Prayer deals with our fears. It gives us a new and more refreshing perspective in every difficult situation. Prayer may not immediately change our situation, but it has the power to immediately change the way we see that situation and consequently the way we deal with that situation.
Pray with thanksgiving for all the ways He blesses us (Philippians 4:6).
4. Prayer brings peace.
Life challenges have a way of disorienting us by creating confusion and mishaps. But when we pray to our Heavenly Father we begin to feel at ease where we are restored to a place of peace and restored to a a place where we can effectively serve His purpose.
Pray when we are ill, lonely, going through trials or interceding for others (James 5:14-16, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
5. Prayer brings clarity.
Prayer will open up our spiritual eyes. No matter how bad a situation may appear, light will always be revealed in darkness. However, that light must be recognized and turned on from within us because that’s where the Holy Spirit dwells.
Prayer has the power to reveal to us to the “light” , the good even in the darkness .
Pray for (spiritual) understanding and wisdom (Proverbs 2:6-8, Proverbs 3:5).
- Sharing a Little Faith During the Pandemic - August 6, 2020
- Why Should I Pray if God Knows Everything? - April 4, 2017
- 5 Biblical Truths To Remember in Times of Crisis - December 5, 2016
