PURPOSES OF PRAYER

 

The purposes of prayer are many. Through prayer, you thank and praise God, you humbly confess your sin and acknowledge your dependence on God's grace, you express your concerns, and experience a relationship with God, and you seek inner peace and strength to live. The main purpose of prayer is to appeal to God for his protection and care, as well as a call for the well-being and prosperity of all mankind, as well as a means for worshiper to thank God for all that he has done. In many ways, prayer can seem forced and even useless in the light of God's unchanging will and His all-sufficient sovereignty. What is the point of praying if God already knows your every need and can clearly see your heart? For many, the practice of prayer has become an unequal exchange full of unanswered requests. Or maybe prayer is very much like an emergency number. When you are faced with fears or are suddenly shaken by suffering, do you quickly ask God in His power to resolve your circumstances and rebuild your world? Unfortunately, in all these cases, prayer is reduced to a means of getting something from God. The danger of this view lies in its superficial and often vague view of God's disposition. Your frustration comes from your lack of spiritual awareness. Here are some important purposes of prayer:

1. Prayer is a place of honest expression: When you experience the pain of suffering or the grip of anxiety, it is not about getting rid of it, but rather humble yourself in any situation, bringing your burdens and requests to God. God cares about your problems, and his word invites you to openly share with Him your struggles in waiting for his love and attention. With this renewed purpose, prayer becomes a safe place for the outpouring of hearts. Ultimately, prayer empowers your souls to speak. Prayer invites you to question and cry out to the One who is near and worthy of all praise. It is in the presence of God that you can bear pain fearlessly, knowing that God hears you, knows your need, and is willing to comfort you with His goodness and grace.

2. Prayer is a position of surrender: In addition to honest communication with your Creator, prayer is also an attitude of surrender. It is here, in the silence of your heart, that you humble yourself before the sovereign hand of God and hold fast to the promises that He has spoken to you through His word. You are learning to submit your will to your holy and loving Father. In this posture, you rediscover the freedom to submit to the sovereignty of your Saviour.

3. Prayer is a process of becoming more attuned to God’s Movement: As with any intentional relationship, when you spend time with God, you become more aware of how He works in and through your life. Prayer shapes you and prepares you to be more in tune with the melody of mercy and more aware of God's work in your heart. If you want to see how God works in and through you, you must begin by praying. As you turn your gaze to God daily and seek spiritual wisdom and understanding, you will feel the work of God in your heart and in the world around you.

4. Prayer is a practice of pursuing God’s Presence: The most important purpose of prayer is to seek to be in the presence of God. In moments of peace and silence, you learn to regulate and realign your souls so that they rest in the source of their power. So, whatever condition you may find yourself in, let you begin to pray in this way. May you learn to make prayer a safe place, and submit wholeheartedly to the will of your Saviour! May you gain endurance in the process of realizing God's movement and never stop chasing moments just to be in His presence!

5. Prayer is a way to show your love for God and a way to encourage others: God certainly doesn't need you to pray to accomplish His plans. He already has all the strength and power He needs. God created people to be in relationship with Him and with each other. He provided prayer as a tool for connection. Prayer reminds you of who God is and what He can do. This often leads to times of worship, and your praise pleases Him. Prayer makes you humble and aware of your need, and keeps your eyes fixed on God. And when you see Him respond to a request, that's cause for celebration.

6. Prayer is a way to confirm your trust in God: Scripture is clear that prayer is important. But have you ever wondered how effective it really is? When you see results, you may think that your prayers have made a difference. But when it seems that the request has remained unanswered, one can doubt. However, both of these assumptions use incorrect measurements. The power to create, correct, and heal comes only from God. When you are attuned to God, your prayers can lead to a greater manifestation of God's disposition and desires. And it can have a big impact in and around you. One of the qualities of God is an unchanging nature, and your prayers do not affect this. You must understand that, first of all, God wants people to repent and return to Him. In His grace, He is thrilled when He hears someone sincerely ask for that chance.

It is said that God never leaves a prayer unanswered. But His Word makes no guarantee that you will get everything you want. And sometimes His answer, or lack of it, seems to be "no" Whatever the reason, you must continue to seek God. You can start by honestly pouring out your feelings and thoughts to Him. Then you can decide what to do with your thing - either pick it up persistently or give it to the Lord. When you reach out to Him, even in your frustration, He will give you His peace while you wait. It is tempting to look for visible results to decide if your prayers are effective. Prayer has a rich purpose that goes beyond receiving. Prayer is not a question of changing things outwardly, but of working miracles in the inner being of man. God is the love that sustains the universe, the ocean of life and power that pervades all creation. Through the scientific methods of prayer, you can attune to this Infinite Power and bring healing to the body, mind, and spirit.