Why should we Pray?

As we celebrate the National Day of Prayer today, I do so with great gratitude that I live in a country where this is still permitted. But who are we kidding – what percentage of believers are on their face crying out for their country? On days like today, I’m reminded how I need to have a much bigger focus than just my family or my church family when I pray.In my experience, lecturing people to pray has very little lasting impact. Christ followers usually know they should pray. So why don’t we pray more? I would contend that many do not pray because they get disillusioned and discouraged if they pray and do not see God answer. The question often lingers:

"Why should I pray?"

Let me give you three reasons why you must persevere in prayer:

1. Real temptation is nearIf you are familiar with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, you might remember that as Jesus stepped away from the disciples, He urged them to “pray that you may not enter into temptation.” He urged them to pray because He knew what was ahead in the very next hours. They were going to be tempted to deny that they knew Jesus. They were going to be tempted to run and forget all that they had experienced following Jesus for the last three years.

In 2014, the same temptations exist. When life gets hard, we are tempted to make our own plan and do our own thing. We are tempted to ignore all that Jesus has taught us. We need God’s protection and wisdom so we can avoid the real temptations that we face every day.

2. Honest surrender is requiredIn the Garden, even Jesus asked for something and did not receive a “yes” from God. Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.” God did not remove the cup. I find great comfort in this. But don’t stop there. The next words out of Jesus’ mouth are, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” We must not miss this. God wants to know the honest desires of our heart; but at the end of the day, when we come in prayer, we must answer the question, “Do I trust Him?” If we do, then we must honestly surrender to Him. We can tell Him every desire and every burden, but then we must hold tight to the fact that He sees and knows what we cannot.

3. God’s strength is neededSometimes God does not remove the storms in our lives. Instead, for reasons sometimes beyond earthly explanation, He will choose to carry us through the storm rather than removing it. We cannot do it without His strength. He makes His strength available day by day, but we must make ourselves available to Him.

Some of my prayers still appear to have gone unanswered after years of praying, but I must persevere in prayer and so must you. God alone is able to work to accomplish God-sized prayers. While I anxiously wait, I must trust that His thoughts and ways are higher. Even when I don’t understand, I know that He alone can carry me through. So, I gratefully come for strength while I wait for “Yes.”