The What of Prayer

Quite often, when a guy and a girl start dating, they get all caught up in the exciting emotions they feel, or figuring out the practicalities of when they can next get together, or where they'll go for their next date, or even if it is appropriate to text one another 300 times per day.

But rarely do they consider what the whole purpose of dating is.

When it comes to prayer, I think Jesus-followers sometimes can get caught up in the same things. They come to prayer hoping to feel something, or they wonder when they should be praying, or what words to say, or even wonder where the appropriate locations for prayer might be. But rarely do they stop to wonder, "What is the purpose of prayer?"

Pray What

As we continue our Investigating Prayer series, we want to ask the "what." What exactly is prayer?

The simple answer: Communication with God.

At its core, that's what prayer is. Prayer isn't a magic formula to get something from God. It isn't a duty to get God off your back. Nor is prayer just a mindless or repetitious activity. Prayer is first and foremost communicating with God.

In His teaching on prayer, Jesus admits that God the Father already knows what you need before you ask. (Matthew 6:8) So why bother communicating with an all-knowing God?

First, because He invites you here! Think about it: the fact that Jesus, the Son of God, teaches us to pray is proof that the Creator of All Things wants you to come to Him. So take Him up on the invitation.

Second, prayer isn't just trying to convince God of what you need. It is a reminder to you that you need Him to provide. In other words, prayer is more for your heart than for God's ears.

Third, God is honored that we cast ourselves prostrate before His throne of grace in prayer. He created you in His image. So for you to return to Him in such a humble fashion, asking Him to do what only He can do in your life, is an amazing act of worship.

What to Say

Before I end, let me encourage you not to worry about the words to pray. In verse 5 of Matthew 6, Jesus comments that some of the Pharisees of His day thought prayer was a big show of their fancy words, and in verse 7, He says that some of the Gentiles of His day thought prayer was about the amount of words. But He brings correction to both of these errors in prayer. It isn't the amount of words nor the fanciness of them that God is concerned with. Rather, it is the heart behind your words.

So humbly bring your raw, honest self before your Loving Heavenly Father, knowing He wants you to communicate your heart's needs and desires, even though He already knows what you will say.