I do not pray when there is nothing urgent to pray about. Aha.. this implied that I treat prayer like a spare tire. I only pray when there’s a problem to solve… when I am in trouble… when I’m at the end of my wits… when I don’t know what else to do… tsk tsk tsk.. O yes, I know prayer should be my first resource not my last one! But this is not an ideal or noble reason to pray.. although it is not wrong to pray when I need help.
So why do I pray?
I pray because when I pray, I am having a conversation with God – not just me talking but me also listening. Prayer is a two-way chat between the Father and his child. Prayer is the time for me to slow down, think and ponder upon what God is trying to tell me in His word. It is a time for me to be still and know God.
I pray because in prayer I tell God that I cannot do it alone. I need him to help me through the day – whatever that comes my way, I need his wisdom, his joy, love, patience, peace and all the fruit of the Spirit that only comes from God.
I pray because in prayer I participate in God’s amazing works in the world around me. I am amazed when I see how God answers the prayers of his children as they pray for one another, with one another, trusting each other – no judging, no shame, no fear, no anxiety, but fully confident that they all have a God who listens and answers according to His sovereign power, wisdom and kindness.
I pray because even as the Word of God is my daily bread, prayer is the oxygen that sustains me in my Christian walk.
Prayer does not have to be a formal well-crafted thing with nice sounding words to reach the Father’s ears. It does not have to be eloquent and full of doctrinal wisdom to be understood by the God of the universe. It can be moans and groans in the inner recess of my heart – beyond words that my mouth can speak and my hands can write. It can come from the dark night of the soul – when I have no word to say but only a sincere longing from my spirit to draw peace and encouragement, comfort and assurance from my heavenly Father who is the Word from the beginning unto the end.
