Why Do We Pray

Friday, January 31, 2025

Good morning, LordFather in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Verse of the Day: Psalm 86:5

5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Today's reading:  Exodus 25-26 Matthew 20:17-34

Why Do We Pray?

For god so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him shall not die but have everlasting life.(John 3:16)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(Romans 10:9)

For every command anywhere in the Bible, God wants our positive or righteous response. In other words, we are to act responsibly toward our great God who has given us eternal life through Christ His Son and do our part.

We must place our trust in Christ and declare with our mouths and our living(Romans 12:1&2) that Jesus is our Lord and in Him have salvation and everything else we need(Romans 8:32).

But why must we pray now? God needs nothing from us-He is all powerful and holds all knowledge. He knows our every thought and move and our every need. God does not need our praise.

Then why pray? Prayer was a way of life for Jesus and He was God in the flesh. But-He was also physically man-with the natural man nature subject to sin-yet he did not sin. He prayed a lot.

The reason we became believers was the desire-I believe given by the Spirit of God to begin with-the desire to know Him. This ‘desire’ for the divine is like a muscle. It will atrophy if not exercised. It becomes small, flabby and weak.

To whom did the apostles say, “Increase our faith?”. They said it to Jesus-in person with Him(Luke 17:5). They were not on their knees in prayer. He was with them. The Holy Spirit is with each of us-now-always. He moves with us as Jesus did with the apostles. Being aware of Jesus' righteousness made them aware of all they lacked.

There it is. Consciousness of the Spirit-in private, yes, but every other second of our day-just as Jesus was with them, the Holy Spirit is with us. As the world whirls around us-it is not just me-it is the two of us-the Holy Spirit and me-the Holy Spirit and you-together always.

And, no, your are not crazy if you talk out loud to God as you are driving or walking or whatever. God simply wants us to experience life with Him heartbeat to heartbeat.

Again, how can we not?

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

My heart strives to hallow Your name, great God. My heart wants to know Your kingdom. I need Your holy bread for today. Forgive me my ho-hum attitude toward prayer. Lead me away from the attitudes of the enemy.

Holy , Holy God and Lord,

In the Name of Christ Jesus,

Amen