Articles
What is Prayer?
When God encourages us in His Word to pray, what is He saying to us? Isn’t He saying that He wants to hear from us, His children? Like a parent who longs to hear from His grown children, our Father in heaven desires our prayers. When we pray we are talking to a listening Father, not a distant deity.
Isn’t it awesome to think that the God who fashioned the farthest galaxies wants a personal relationship with each of us as individuals? Isn’t it comforting to know He cares so deeply about us? Knowing this, we will be less inclined to turn prayer into mere ritual. Prayer is talking to our Father who loves us.
But of course there is much more to prayer than this. Prayer is a reminder of our dependence on God—a lesson in humility. Prayer is a test of our confidence in His promises — an exercise in faith (James 1:5 -8). And since God knows all, we might as well be transparent and admit our wrongs. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NASB).
Prayer is an opportunity not only to express our own needs, but also those of others. This accomplishes two things. First, praying for others’ needs helps us to counter our natural selfish tendencies. Second, if God wills, He will grant our prayer for another’s need, and we can actually make a difference for good in the lives of those around us (Acts 12:1 - 5, 11 -12; Colossians 1:9 -12; 4:12 -13; 1 Timothy 2:1 -4).
But prayer goes beyond asking for ourselves and others. It goes beyond confessing our sins. Prayer is for praise and thanksgiving. By meditating on the Psalms, we can learn how to lift our hearts in adoration to a holy God of power, and to express our gratitude to our kind and generous Father.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1 - 2
