Why Pray?
This is not about our ministry and what we are doing. This is about you and what God wants to do in your life. Prayer is the single most powerful advantage we have been given to overcome and experience victory and freedom in our lives. Grab a hold with both hands and watch God bring victory in every trial; give you direction and purpose; and transform your life as you turn to Him in prayer.
God says in His Word that "the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective." God wants your life to be profoundly effective. He wants you to be powerful. God always gives us the means to accomplish the purposes He has for us. He has given prayer to everyone of us. It is not a gift given only to a few but to all who call to Him for help.
Prayer is not a bunch of religious sounding phrases recited with a folded body posture. Prayer is not about specific words we have to use in a certain arrangement in order for God to hear us. Whether our head is bowed or held high, our hands clasped or open wide is not what is important to God. What He asks from us is an honest heart and a willing spirit.
There are so many wonderful reasons God gives us to pray. Below are just a few straight out of His Word.
What the bible teaches on prayer
Does God want us to pray?
- Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Col. 4:2)
- And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:18)
- Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)
- I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. (1Tim. 2:8)
- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
- Be...faithful in prayer. (Rom. 12:12 )
- As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. (1 Sam.12:23 )
- Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (Psa. 150:1,2,6)
- Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found. (Psa. 32:6)
Why does God want us to pray?
- I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1Tim. 2:1-4)
- Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. (Mark 14:38 )
- With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. (2 Th. 1:11 )
- I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength. (Eph. 1:19)
Does prayer make a difference?
- Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. (James 5:13)
- The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
- Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. (Psa. 2:8)
- If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14)
- We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Col. 1:9)
- I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Eph. 3:17)
- And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:17-19)
- Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" - and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. (Psa. 32:5)
- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
- And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way. (Col. 1:10)
How do we pray?
- Pray continually. (1Th. 5:17 )
- And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:18)
- But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt. 6:6)
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil. 4:6)
- Pray for those who persecute you, (Matt. 5:44 )
- If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14)
- Pray in the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20)
- … the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:26)
- Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (1 Pet. 4:7)
- Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess His name. (Heb. 13:15)
- Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col. 3:16)
- And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Matt. 6:7-8)
- Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" - and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. (Psa. 32:5)