Why should we pray?

“Since the power of prayer is in the One Who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” ~ Max Lucado in He Still Moves Stones

“Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” ~ John Bunyan

We are commanded to pray.

• Should pray always. (Luke 18:1)


• Be…faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)


• Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)


• You do not have, because you do not ask God. (James 4:2)

Jesus gave us an example.

• The Model Prayer (Luke 11:1-5)



• For Peter (Luke 22:32)



• Before feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000 ( John 6:1-15 and Mark 8:1-9)



• He prayed often. (Luke 5:16)



• Early in the morning (Mark 1:35)



• All night (Luke 6:12)



• In the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46)

(If Jesus, the very Son of God, felt a need to be in communion with the Father, then surely we humans need it even more.)

Prayer shows our dependence on God. (John 15:5)

We are priests between the lost and God.

• 1 Samuel 12:23



• Ezekiel 22:30



• 1 Timothy 2:1-4

God acts in response to prayer.

• Moses prayed for the people to be spared and God spared them. (Exodus 32:7-14)



• Elijah prayed for no rain and it didn’t rain for three years, not until he then asked for rain. (James 5:17-18)



• Hannah prayed for a son and received him. (1 Samuel 1)



• David prayed for forgiveness and God gave it. (Psalm 51)



• Jonah prayed for mercy and received it. (Jonah 2)



• Peter prayed that Tabitha would be raised from the dead, and she was. (Acts 9)



• God offers the same to us. (See Psalm 37:4, Matthew 21:22, and James 5:16)