The Essential Questions of Prayer: Why Do We Pray?

Why Do We Pray?

If you’ve ever struggled to pray, you may have found yourself asking, “Why am I even doing this?” That’s actually a great question. By exploring why you pray, you get a chance to reflect on the true nature of your relationship with God. And understanding that relationship makes it easier to pray, even when you’re struggling.

Prayer isn’t a conversation between you and some mysterious force living on a cloud. God is your Father. You are His child, and He loves you more than you could ever imagine. Like any loving father, He wants to be part of your life. He doesn’t care if it’s been a long time since you’ve prayed, or if you’ve never prayed at all. He just wants to hear from you. That means that when it comes to prayer, a little goes a long way. Even the smallest effort to reach out to Him can make a wonderful difference in your life.

From the scriptures

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The apostle Paul made some big mistakes in His life, but that didn’t stop him from developing a powerful relationship with God. He wrote:
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Ephesians 3:8
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

As you pray

As you pray, keep this relationship in mind. You are a child talking to a wise, loving parent. That means you’re safe to be honest and open about all of your hopes, fears, joys, and challenges. In return, God will bless you with peace, guidance, and hope. Or, to put it even more simply, life can be pretty hard for imperfect people like ourselves. We can’t do it alone. Our Heavenly Father wants to help. That’s why we pray.

More Questions about Prayer

Question: How do people address God in prayer?
Answer
Answer: Some say Father, Father in Heaven, or Heavenly Father to remind themselves of their parent/child relationship with God.
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Question: How can God hear everyone’s prayers at once?
Answer
Answer: We’re just as stumped as you are. But somehow, He does. Isn’t it awesome?
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Question: Does God know me personally?
Answer
Answer: Oh yes. You are a child of God, and God knows you and loves you perfectly.
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Question: What if my prayer doesn’t make sense?
Answer
Answer: Don’t worry. God knows what’s in your heart, even when you have a hard time expressing it.
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What Is Prayer?
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When and Where Do We Pray?

How to Pray

Power of Prayer