Prayer (Part II) - Why Pray?

That prayer is part of the Christian life seems so obvious that it need not be mentioned.  However, so few Christians make prayer a part of their lives that it seems necessary to repeat the obvious fact.  They are afraid to get on their knees and pray, for they think that their communication is heard only by themselves.  

Believers make many excuses for neglecting prayer.  Those excuses range from time restrictions to impatience, but the great secret is that most people think prayer does not actually work.

Sure, they see that prayer can be found frequently in the Bible, but they reason that God will work everything out in His sovereignty whether they miss a prayer or not.  Ingrained in their minds is that prayer exists as a formality.  But prayer that is a formality could in no way be “powerful and effective” (James 5:16).  Far from being a formality, prayer in Scripture is active, not passive.

For example, God told Hezekiah(2 Kings 20:1-11) that the illness he possessed was one from which he would not recover.  Upon hearing the news, Hezekiah did not consult with Isaiah (who was right beside him), or resign himself to the dire outcome.  Instead, he turned away from everything and wept bitterly before the LORD.  Hezekiah’s prayer added fifteen years to his life for he had touched the heart of God.

Along those same lines, numerous examples exist of God saying He will act in a particular way if His people heed His commands through prayer.  One of the more descriptive examples of those contingencies can be found in 2 Chronicles 7.  The chapter begins with God raining fire from Heaven and filling the temple with His glory; this occurred, “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer…”  The chapter ends with God acknowledging that He may have to punish the Israelites for their wicked deeds, but even devastation coming directly from Him could be altered if His people were willing to repent.  If His people humble themselves and pray, seek, and turn, God would be ready to hear, forgive, and heal.  Most encouraging, He says, “...my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer made in this place.” 

Prayer also wages unseen wars in the spiritual realms.  Daniel, who was thrown to lions because he refused to stop praying, once mourned in prayer for three weeks(Daniel 10).  His prayer was heard from the first day he prayed, but an unseen enemy, the Prince of Persia, withstood Gabriel for 21 days.  Gabriel needed the help of another great angel, Michael, before he could respond to the prayer of Daniel.  Many unseen battles must be waged in the spiritual realm that the follower of Christ will never see with his own eyes.  

The believer today can be encouraged in knowing that prayer does something in the heavenly realms; prayer is no formality, but communication with the Almighty Himself.  Such an understanding should make the Christian afraid that he will have to eventually get off his knees and end the sacred session.  When he is willing to humble himself and pray he can be certain that the God of Hezekiah, Solomon, and Daniel will not hesitate to respond.

For thoughts on how to pray see Prayer (Part III) - How To Pray.
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