Why Should We Pray ?
Genesis Ch.4 Verse 26 : first mentions that men began to call on
the name of the Lord.
Revelation Ch.22 Verse 20: closes the Bible with the prayer,
"Come , Lord Jesus " ; compare 1 Corinthians Ch.16 Verse 22:
entire history of redemption is framed in prayer. In between these
terminal references we find a database about prayer that is
so large it requires description beyond simple definition. Why
do we pray ? Here are some key reasons:
1) We love Him Just as a man and woman in love
desire to be together and communicate , so we, if
we love God, will desire to be with Him and to
fellowship with Him in proportion to our love
for Him.
2) We depend on God He is our source. He is our
life (Colossians Ch. 3Verse 4 ) Through prayer, we
receive the comfort, strength, and all the other resources
we need in life, both naturally and spiritually.
Prayer---relationship with God---is as necessary to
the spiritual life as air is to the natural life.
3) Prayer allows us to resist temptation Jesus warned
His disciples to "Watch and pray, lest you enter into
temptation Matthew Ch. 26 Verse 41 Living a life
without prayer can leave us weak and exposed , giving
an opportunity for the enemy to gain ground and
potentially lure us into sin.
4) Prayer is necessary for people to invite God to \
act in salvation God gave the earth to Adam and his
descendants, so we must invite God to work here. If no
one invites Him to work on earth, Satan ---the "god of this age"
because of Humanity's universal rebellion (2 Corinthians Ch.4 Verse 4)
will dominate human affairs, and eventually the judgement of God
will come. By inviting God to intercede often and specifically,
multitudes can be saved who would otherwise be lost.
5) God commands us to pray In Colossians ch.4 Verse 2
Paul writes: "Continue earnestly in prayer , being vigilant
in it with thanksgiving" Jesus also encouraged his followers
to pray : "Then He {Jesus} spoke a parable to them,
that men always ought to pray and not lose heart" Luke Ch.18 Verse 1
The need to pray is as great as the authority of God, who
commands us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians Ch.5
Verse 17) Prayer is so vital to all that God wants to do on the
earth, and it is so essential to us, that He commands us to do it
all the time. We should even deny ourselves sleep and food at
times to pray more and with greater power .
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