Why pray?

WHY PRAY?
Everybody has their own experience with prayer . . . how they do it, why they do it, and what happens when they do. I’m no different. I can’t say prayer has come easily to me—oh sure, the elementary-style prayers of my youth were fine—but the deeper stuff was different.

My deeper trek into the far-reaching regions of prayer began in 2000, when my pastor in Northern California suggested a particular book. He said it would ‘jump-start my prayer life’. He was right. It was not a literary wonder or the revelation of some deeply sought-after key to unlock prayer power. No, it was the story of a man in New York who just prayed. His story changed my life. Really.

Jim Cymbala agreed to fill in as pastor of a small church in Brooklyn, but somehow, he never left. The church was in dire straits—the building dilapidated and falling apart, the tiny congregation splintered, unfocused—well, heck, the ushers were stealing from the offering plate! In the middle of the sermon one day, Cymbala just stopped, and began weeping, telling the motley crew that unless they prayed, and God heard and answered, they were doomed.1

So, they became a praying people. God heard, he came, he answered prayer; miracle after life-changing miracle exploded in their midst. The Brooklyn Tabernacle grreeeewwwwwww. I found it thrilling reading, and began to pray with more earnest. And would you believe it? I too saw more answered prayer than ever before! Six months later, right after moving to Southern California, my two-year-old had kidney failure, and we almost lost him—but, hear me—my faith was ready. I had learned to pray, I had learned to cry out to God, and I have continued on that path ever since.

Why pray? Because we serve a loving, living God who is interested in every aspect of our lives. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4.6-7

Why pray? Because prayer changes things! David said, “I love the Lord for he heard my voice. He heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116.1-2
Paul said, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. For this reason, I kneel before the Father…” Ephesians 3.12,14

Why pray? Because when you know God has answered your prayer, it leaves you wanting more . . . you want more of him! You want more of his power in your life, and more of his grace. When you have learned what it is to spend time in God’s presence, it leaves you wanting more.

Come to him.
Honor him with your words for who he is.
Tell him your needs.
Ask him for help
Tell him your sins.
Ask him for forgiveness.
Thank him for his goodness.

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive.
It is not the pleasure we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do if from a principle of love, and because God would have us.”2

Tomorrow, we shall dig even a little more, but until then—
hey, go to talk to your Father!

Christine

Podcast: www.pastorwoman.com


1 Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
2 Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God