We should pray because we are commanded to always pray – 1 Thess. 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Here we have Paul commanding us to pray without ceasing. As believers, we need to constantly pray because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. When we don’t pray, we are sinning against our Lord and just shows that we are not dependent on Him for anything. If Jesus was so dependent on God while He was a man on this earth, shouldn’t we as his children follow in His footstep and pray for our needs too? We need to set aside some time to get on our knees and pray for provision to our Father just as Jesus did. (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12)
We should pray because it leads to holiness – Romans 8:26-27
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
When we pray, we are not only praying to God but through prayer, the Holy Spirit is helping us and transforming us into becoming a more mature believer. Our prayer will transform us and through the help of the Holy Spirit will make us more righteous. When we repent of our sins, we are showing changes that we no longer want to live a life of sin but a life of holiness and the Word of God promises that those who repent will be forgiven of their sins (Psalm 32:5).
We should pray because it protects us from Satan – Ephesians 6:12-18
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
The reason why we are to take up the full armor of God is because of the struggles against the rulers, powers, the world forces of this darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness. Paul instructs us to put on the armor so we can defend ourselves from Satan and his kingdom. The way we are to defend ourselves is to put on the armor but also ask and seek for help from God. Paul ends with prayer to emphasize that without prayer we will be defenseless. Even with all the armor on, without prayer, the armor is no use. As we put on the armor of God, we need to also pray that we can fend off the forces of this darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness because every believer is under attack 24/7.
We should pray to ask for our daily needs – Matthew 6:11
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
Every believer is commanded to pray for their needs. When Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray, He teaches them to pray for their needs by asking God to “Give us this day our daily bread.” Little things like food, provision, protection, and so on, we are commanded to ask God to provide for us. When we ask God, He promises us that He will take care of His own children and commands us to never worry about being provided. (Matthew 6:28-34)
We should pray to bring glory and honor to His name – Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your loving kindness, because of Your truth.
The way we pray reflects the way we view our Savior. In Psalm 115 verse 1, the first thing out of this prayer is not to us but to your name be the glory because of Your loving kindness, and Your truth. Because God is loving, and because He is the truth, we pray to bring Him all the glory. Also, when Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9, the first sentence that Jesus teaches is to say, “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” This means that when we pray, we are to revere Him, praising and worshiping His mighty name.
We should pray so God would grant repentance to unbelievers – 2 Timothy 2:25-26
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Unbelievers cannot repent without God’s grace and mercy. When we pray for unbelievers, we should pray that God may grant them repentance which will lead the sinner to seeing the truth. Also, we need to pray for them so that they may be able to escape the snare of the devil which they are slaves too.
We should pray to confess our sins – 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Even though we are a child of God, we still live in a fallen world as fallen men and women who live in sin. But thankfully, by the grace of God, if we confess our sins, 1 John 1:9 states that He will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is probably one of the biggest reasons why we pray, to ask for forgiveness or else, we will one day be judged for the sins we have committed (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Post by Andy Kim