If God Already Knows then why pray?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven
give what is good to those who ask Him!
~Matthew 7:11
Why Pray?
*We are told to. We’re told to ask for His will in our lives, for Him to return, for His will here on earth like in heaven, for our daily nutritional needs, to help us lead an honorable life and to protect us from the evils of the world.
*Prayer demonstrates that we need God. It builds a relationship with Him.
*Prayer helps us understand who God is and teaches us to listen to Him for answers and who better to know what we need then the One who created us?
*Prayer makes a difference. Throughout Scripture we see God’s people pray and God answering those prayers. Think of Moses pleading with God to spare the Israelites from God’s wrath after they had committed idolatry with the golden calf. God relented and had mercy on his people (Exodus 32:11-14). Or when Elijah asked God to send rain upon Israel after a long drought, and God sent a great rain (1 Kings 18:42-46). James tells us that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16). When the Canaanite woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus healed the blind and raised from the dead.
*God wants to show us who He is, so I believe He waits until the answer can only be from Him to demonstrate His love for us.
I guess the real question is “Why Not pray?” The benefits far outweigh the cost.
The benefits of prayer:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all [a]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7
What does Philippians 4:6 say about the benefits of prayer? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. ~1Kings 9:3
What will God do for us when we pray according to 1Kings 9:3? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Prayer creates these things within us when done regularly:
*Eliminates worry and anxiety.
**Produces confidence to know we are loved and can approach the Lord and peace that assures me God is on the job even while I sleep.
*Gives direction to our lives and solutions to our problems.
*Sharpens discernment.
*Lifts our spirits and build joy.
*Protects us from trouble.
*Invites God into our daily lives, activities, and decisions.
*We receive answers to prayers! Miracles still happen!
*Prayer increases trust.
*Prayer offsets the negative health effects of stress.
*Prayer connects people who pray together.
*Prayer is the safe place where we can say things that no one else will ever understand.
*Prayer softens and humbles your heart.
