Why Should I Pray?
Prayer is Communication with God

You are able to communicate with God through prayer - petitioning Him about your needs and problems, and honoring Him with thanksgiving and praise. When you have a personal relationship with God, you can be assured He will answer your prayers (Luke 11:1-13). God only desires that you seek Him from a pure and sincere heart.
May be right now, you're not even sure about God. You don't even know if He really exists. That's okay. Ask God in prayer to show you. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will honor your sincere request.
"For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward him, so that he can show his great power in helping them." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Why Aren't Some Prayers Answered

The Bible offers several reasons why our prayers might be hindered or left unanswered:

  • Disobedience (Dueteronomy 1:42-45)
  • Secret or unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18)
  • Failure to show mercy to others (Proverbs 21:13)
  • Stubborness (Zechariah 7:13)
  • Instability (James 1:6-7)
  • Self-indulgence (James 4:3)

The key to an effective prayer life is dealing with these issues. Once your sins are confessed and your conscience clear, you can expect God to answer you.
How Should I Pray

God is not a genie. He doesn't hand out fame, fortune and wealth simply because someone asks for them. Instead, you must pray according to His will. The Bible says if we ask anything according to God's will, we can have confidence that He hears us (1 John 5:14). God wants you to be healthy (Psalm 30:2). He wants you to acquire wisdom (James 1:5) and live a life filled with love, peace and joy (Galatians 5:22).
Pray for these things, because they are part of God's will! And when you pray, offer a prayer of thanksgiving and praise. Honor God above all else! Then in faith, ask Him for the desires of your heart, knowing that the prayers of a righteous person will be heard.

Expect Answers

Examine yourself! Take a fearless inventory of your life and motives. If they are pure, the prayers that proceed out of your mouth will reflect that inward condition. Ask with pure motives and a believing heart, and God will answer you. Expect answers even while you pray! Pray to Him, praise Him, worship Him, and then watch with joy as He provides for your every need.
To The Next Level (c) 2000, 2001 Reprinted with permission.