Why must we pray?
We are commanded to pray
Salvation is free, but we’re not freed from service
It is not difficult to find Scripture commanding us to pray.
Pray without ceasing ( )
Pray lest you fall in to Satan’s hands ( )
Pray to your Father… ( )
Become more Christlike, be Sanctified, through confession and growth in prayer ( )
More ( )
And fortunately, our Father has ensured that we are very capable of carrying out His expectations.
We are drawn to pray
Isn’t it easy to pray when we are in trouble? Looking to God for help during difficulties is one way He expects us to seek Him. But what about the rest of the time?
A great byproduct of good prayer is edification in His Spirit (consider Paul’s words to Timothy). There is often a deep satisfaction in spending intimate time in good prayer with God. This encouragement is rewarding and draws us back for more. Jesus has promised that if we obey Him and do what He has told us to do, we will be rewarded with His loving presence. (John 14:21)
We have the means to pray
A wise person in charge knows that in order for his subordinates to flourish, they must have both the opportunity and the ability to carry out their responsibilities. God our Father is absolutely the best overseer, and all things exist under His provision, or supply.
He has made sure His children have a Priest, forgiveness, access, the Holy Spirit, His Will in the Word, and plenty of opportunity. Later we will discuss these means in greater detail. The main point is that He has made it possible to succeed by providing all of the ingredients. All that is required of us is obedience to His Will.
We will be held accountable for our prayer
When someone is directed to do something – is given the opportunity and has the means to do it – they will also be held accountable for their response. In this case we are told to do so by God Himself, and He keeps perfect accounts of how we respond.
The examination lying ahead of us is a sure thing, and the consequences are, too. The good news is that the Lord has promised rich rewards for those who love Him and labor for Him, while those who do not will ‘suffer as one passing through the fire, yet not perishing’. There will be much joy in our gathering in Heaven, but there will also be a lot of realization in what has been lost through a failure to comply. Ephesians 2:10 tells it quite well – that we are still here, now Saved, to serve God in good works. God our Provisionary has provided the opportunity and means to do this.
Every issue is eligible for prayer
All things under God’s sovereignty fall into one of two categories: those things in His Will, and those not. In both cases, prayer is appropriate.
For the issues in His Will, we give Him gratitude and appreciation, and adore Him for it. He’s responsible for each breath we take, and for all of Creation. What about the work each of us has seen Him do? And what about all that He promises in His Word, which He guarantees will be done?
As for the issues out of His Will, those polluted in sin, there is plenty of opportunity. But this is no accident. God’s Creation has been subjected to sin in order for us to have a need of Him, and ample opportunity to learn how to rely on His provision through faith. Every time we take an issue to Him properly in prayer, He is glorified, the issue is rectified, and we are Sanctified. Every answered prayer is another issue brought under alignment with God’s Will, and this pleases Him.