Why Should We Pray?

prayer - our response to God

"We respond to God because He is already speaking. Language is spoken into us. We learn language only as we are spoken to. All speech is answering speech. We were all spoken to before we spoke." - Eugene Peterson

Luke 11:1-4 ESV

1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins,for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray – not how to pray, but to pray.

Why should we pray?

Luke 11:5-10 ESV

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

There is no inconveniencing God.

Don't dishonor God by doubting His generosity.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Luke 11:11-13 ESV

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

It is not our understanding of good that should define the Spirit; rather, the Spirit should inform our understanding of what is truly good.

Why should we pray?

Because God is generous with His presence.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

God's presence means clarity, freedom, and transformation.

The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something but to be with Someone.