WHY PRAY?

The angels of God rejoice when we pray. Physical eyes do not see it but they sing and worship with us. Why? Because praying to the Most Holy Name is the highest form of blessing it.

Praying acknowledges God’s existence and our dependence upon Him. Praying is an expression of humility, worship, obedience and gratitude. It manifests our heart desire to nurture a LOVE-relationship with God.   

The angels rejoice but the demons tremble when we pray. Allow us to paraphrase what Jonathan Edwards said, “The demons fear nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. They laugh at our toil, mock at our wisdom, but tremble when we pray.”

Nothing is more fearful to them than when we pray to the Most Holy Name. In one occasion, after this scribe did exorcism, the devil was overheard in saying, “Why must he learn that name?”

¹ One day Y’shua was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” LUKE 11

Y’shua said, “Your heart ought to be saying a prayer of thanksgiving every time your body receives breath.” (Gospel of Barnabas)

The Son of Man kept Himself in prayer mode 24/7, always mindful of God whatever His circumstances were and whatever He was doing. We are advised to do the same. 

¹⁷ Pray continually [without ceasing]. 1 THESSALONIANS 5

Our FB friend Lizetti Dcs said, "When you feel you can no longer stand, it's time to kneel. Make prayer a regulative and regular part of your daily life and it will change things that need changing."

Y’shua said, “Prayers are the hands of life; he who has no hands cannot receive. Prayer is the weapon of faith; it repels the evil empire. Prayer is the shield of the heart from evil touch. Prayer is the medicine of the soul; through it sin is forgiven. Prayer is the advocate of the soul; through it the end times can be delayed. Prayer is the salt that preserves the flesh from putrefaction. Prayer is the bridle that leads the mind into the path of righteousness. The man without prayer is like a sail without a rudder; or like a man who defends himself without any movement or attacks his enemy without any weapon.” (cf. Gospel of Barnabas)

We have to pray to improve our lot.                                                       

²⁰ But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. ²¹ Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Y’shua the Messiah to bring you to eternal life. JUDE tlb

²⁵ Pray sincerely that God will help you live a better life. SIRACH 17

In our journey called life we have physical, material, mental, emotional, financial and spiritual needs that must be satisfied before we can honestly say we are “fulfilled”. It is wise to satisfy them with the help of God, especially when it comes to our spiritual needs (soul-growth, salvation, restoration, inner joy and serenity). We must pray for God to satisfy them.

“If we had more prayers,” said W. Len Tucker, “we would have fewer cares.”      

In the kingdom war, we are up against an enemy with a large, well-organized army. There is no way flesh and blood can overcome it, moreso as individuals. We need to be helped. If we link up with God, we get access to His omnipotence and omniscience. In war that matters a lot. At least we can find out where our enemy is, what he is up to and where lies his vulnerable points; and we can crush him with God’s might. God knows what is happening all around us; He can coach us on what best to do. Not to consult with Him is to miss the mark.

³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. LUKE 21

Many people do not pray because they have little (if not zero) faith in God. That’s understandable. Romans 10:14 says: “How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?”

Ironically though, the best solution to little or lack of faith is prayer itself!

Praying is like seating by a fireplace. Seat near the fire and you feel more warmth. You touch base with God and get a taste of His loving qualities and sh’khinah (light-pulsating presence) the more. Your soul is enveloped in serenity and your heart, in overwhelming joy. You experience an unparalleled high. You might not see God but you become certain that He exists. This sets in motion the process that leads to faith.

¹ Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ⁶ [God] rewards those who earnestly seek Him. HEBREWS 11

The more fervent you pray, the hotter your LOVE-relationship with God gets. The bonding grows stronger and the communion turns warmer. It is no different when two humans break the wall of silence between them and speak to one another with affection and sincerity. They build intimacy which increases as they reach the point of confiding to one another their personal moments and concerns. Conversely, often where communication is absent or superficial, coldness seeps in to replace the warmth. It can happen that the two end up being distant and indifferent to one another.

A. W. Tozer said, “The man who would know God must give time to Him.”

He who does not pray violates four instructions of God (Luke 21:36, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12, Colossians 4:2)—five if Sirach 7:10 is included. He who violates an instruction of God makes himself impure and a son of the devil (1 John 3:8). In effect he tells God: “I am not really interested in keeping a relationship with you. I have no faith in what you can do for me! I can win my battles alone. I don’t need any unsolicited advice from you! I can take care of myself. Now get lost! I’m busy. Praying is such a waste of time.”

Impliedly he thinks he is smarter than God and his ways are better than His.

¹² Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his Maker. ¹³ Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness. SIRACH 10

²² Stop trusting in man. ISAIAH 2

⁶ I will destroy those who have turned and no longer follow Me, those who do not come to Me or ask Me to guide them. ZEPAHNIAH 1 tev

We have to pray to be held a child of God.

“Acknowledge God's sovereignty over your stressful situation. Declare that He is still in control even if the situation is out of your hands. Believe in your heart that His hand has not been shortened to the extent that it cannot save you (Isaiah 59:1), and confess with your mouth that your problematic situation is not too big for Him to solve or too stressful for Him to resolve,” said Dr. Miriam Kinai in Managing Stress with the Word of God. “If you are suffering from a physical illness, prayerfully declare and believe that since God is the One who created your body, He is also able to heal it. If there is a rift in your marriage, proclaim and believe that since He is the One who joined you to your spouse, He is also able to keep you together. If your children are going astray, believe and decree that since He is the One who gave them to you, He is also able to help you keep them on the straight and narrow path to heaven.”

William B. Girao said, “Relying on our own strength to accomplish things is worldliness. True spirituality is constant dependence on God for everything, from the mundane to the earthshaking (Philippians 4:6-7).”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “The Christian should work as if all depended on him, and pray as if all depended on God.”

Point to Ponder: Do we really understand the power of prayer?

Myles Munroe said, “God, God Almighty, God the Creator of the heavens and the earth, God the Beginning and the End, God the Source of all that is, God the Creator of man—the same God, in all His power and all His majesty, stops and listens when you pray… Prayer is man giving God permission or license to interfere in earth's affairs… All that God is—and all that God has—may be received through prayer. Everything you need to fulfill your purpose on earth is available to you through prayer. Whether you know it or not, you have the authority to change the world through prayer.” (Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer)

⁶ And now just as you trusted in the Messiah to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him. ⁷ Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done. COLOSSIANS 2 tlb   

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: ⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. PSALM 37

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. PROVERBS 3

 “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His highest willingness,” said a French archbishop. (125 Quotes and Illustrations, p. 3)

Andrew Bonar said, “O brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and forget food—and sleep too—than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray.”