The purpose of prayer

The desire to pray is inherent within mankind

Prayer is a fundamental ingredient of all religions.
Even non-religious people pray.
There is something within man that God has placed, a desire to communicate with him. However, because of sin’s corruption this is distorted, therefore people often pray to that which cannot help them.

On a basic level, people pray when they are in need. A situation exists that they cannot do anything about in their own strength. So they reach out, often in hope more than anything, and appeal to a higher authority. It is often desperation that drives people to pray.

If you want to be heard you have to pray to the living God

Elijah on Mount Carmel. 1 Kings 18: 22-38.
Praying to anyone or anything else is futile.
Correct theology is that we pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit

The purpose of prayer

a) To communicate with God. Prayer isn’t just about asking. Communication equals relationship. ‘I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection’ Philippians 3:10

b) To ask God’s blessings on situations. We recognise that if God is not in what we do, then our work is futile. ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain’ Psalm 127:1

c) To bring about change. Whilst we do have responsibility to do what we can, there will always be a limit. That’s why we petition God. ‘For nothing is impossible with God’ Luke 1:37

Stewart Bloor

www.sicm.org