What is the purpose of prayer?

Answer

Prayer is an essential aspect of the Christian life as it serves as a means to communicate with the Lord and offer Him praise. To grasp the true essence of prayer, it is crucial to clarify what prayer is not. Various misconceptions exist in the world and within cultures, including among Christians, that need to be addressed. Prayer is not

• bargaining with God.

• making demands of God.

• solely about asking God for things.

• a form of therapeutic meditation.

• a nuisance to God that consumes His time.

• a method to manipulate the Lord.

• a way to flaunt one’s spirituality to others.

Many individuals perceive prayer solely as a means to request things from God. While making supplications is indeed a component of prayer «Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. », (Philippians 4:6), it does not constitute the sole purpose of prayer. While praying for personal and others’ needs is important and beneficial, prayer encompasses much more. A. W. Tozer cautioned, “Prayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified ‘gold rush’” (Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings, compiled by Gerald Smith, Moody Publishers, 2008, entry for Feb. 26). God is neither a wish-granting genie nor a feeble deity subject to our prayers.

Studying Jesus’ example during His earthly ministry is the most effective way to comprehend the purpose of prayer. Jesus prayed for Himself, for others, and to commune with the Father. A notable example of Jesus’ prayer life can be found in John 17. In this chapter, He not only prays for the glorification of the Father but also intercedes for His disciples and “for those who will believe in me through their message” “Neither do I pray for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word;”, (John 17:20). Submitting to the Father’s will was another aspect of Jesus’ prayer life, highlighted in His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Yet not as I will, but as you will” “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”, (Matthew 26:39). With any request we have, we must submit to God’s will.

In addition to interceding for others, prayer is also a way to strengthen our relationship with God. Jesus set the example, as He prayed to the Father throughout His earthly ministry (Luke 6:12;Matthew 14:23). Those in relationships will naturally seek to communicate with each other, and prayer is our communication with God. Other good examples in the Bible of those who spent time in prayer are David, Hezekiah, and Paul.

Ultimately, the main purpose of prayer is worship. When we pray to the Lord, recognizing Him for who He is and what He has done, it is an act of worship. There are many examples of prayer being an act of worship in the Bible, including 2 Kings 19:15, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Psalm 86:12–13, John 12:28, and Romans 11:33–36. How we pray should reflect this purpose; our focus should be on who God is, not on ourselves.

Interestingly, the model of prayer that Jesus gave the disciples in Matthew 6:9–13, known as the Lord’s Prayer, has all these elements. The first part includes praise and worship of God “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”, (Matthew 6:9).

The Lord’s Prayer is divided into different sections. The first part focuses on acknowledging and praising God’s holiness (Matthew 6:9). The second part shifts to praying for God’s will to be fulfilled «Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. », (Matthew 6:10). Following this, there is a request for our needs and the needs of others (Matthew 6:11-12), along with seeking strength to resist temptation «And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. », (Matthew 6:13). Jesus used this prayer as an example for His disciples, highlighting the various aspects of prayer with a central theme of worship.

Prayer holds significant importance in the Christian journey, and one’s prayer life should be nurtured. Prayer not only impacts our lives and those around us but also serves as a means to connect with the Lord and deepen our relationship with Him. At its core, prayer is an expression of worship to the Lord. The Bible underscores the significance and effectiveness of prayer, emphasizing that it should not be overlooked.

Author Warren Wiersbe aptly summarizes the essence of prayer: “The immediate purpose of prayer is to fulfill God’s will on earth; the ultimate purpose of prayer is to bring eternal glory to God” (from On Earth as It Is in Heaven: How the Lord’s Prayer Teaches Us to Pray More Effectively, Baker Books, 2010, p. 78).