The Purpose of Prayer – What Is It?
Recently, it was found that the phrase “how to pray” has been searched 20,000 times on YouTube. However, not one of the first five results are by a church or pastor. Sadly, people are not searching for answers in church. They’re searching on YouTube. Yet, it seems people are searching, they are hungry, and they want answers.
The word prayer is found 673 times in the Bible. The Greek word means, “to wish, offer a request, comprising a vow.” Webster Dictionary says, “To make a request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication. The Bible says, we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).
Simply put, prayer is communicating with God. It is literally having a conversation with Him. But, how do we do that? It’s very simple. All you have to do is talk to Him. Ask God for His help.
Psalm 142 says we can tell God everything. There is nothing He doesn’t already know, so why not talk to Him about it? You may say, ‘if God knows everything, then why should I also have to tell Him?’ I would tell you, because He wants to hear from you.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 (NKJV)
“I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.” Psalm 142:2 (NLT, emphasis is mine)
Psalm 107:28-30 (NLT) reminds us of the power which is in prayer:
“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into the harbor!” So, He also guides people to their desired haven.
We can rest assured that, when we pray, when we talk to God, He does hear us and He answers us. He even proves it in His Word again, and again.
“I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears… In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.” Psalm 34:4, 6 (NLT)
There is power in prayer!