Why Pray?

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-8

Every now and then, I have had to answer the question of "why pray?" when it is pretty clear that Jesus teaches that our Father in heaven knows what we need before we ask. Without question, our omniscient God is well aware of every need and concern we have! Yet, he also urges us to pray and cast our needs before him (1 Pet. 5:7). How can we answer this question? Calvin wrestled with it as well. He wrote, "If God knows what we need before we seek it, there might appear to be no benefit in prayer." I suspect that many Christians have wrestled with this issue.

Calvin goes on to answer it, "The faithful do not pray to tell God what he does not know, or urge him to his duties, or hurry him on when he delays, but rather to alert themselves to seek him, to exercise their faith by meditating upon his promises, unburdening their cares by lifting themselves into his bosom, and finally to testify that from him alone, all good for themselves and for others is hoped and asked." Put a different way, the "purposes of prayer go far beyond simply petitioning God or asking him for what we need or desire." (McKim, 72). Thus, when we are praying, we are communing with the living and true God. We are not merely dripping a shopping list of needs before our God and Father. No, we are entering into a time of sweet fellowship with the Almighty. Prayer works to change our hearts and minds. If done properly, it should focus our attention on the promises of God and his person. Thus, prayer is more than merely asking our Father for things. It is also a time of thankfulness, praise, and adoration. Prayer reflects the heart attitude of one who is dependent on God. Yes, he knows our needs, and he has promised to meet them. He desires our pleas for help, and he works through our prayers to show more of His faithfulness to us. Far from being an exercise, it is a means of conversing with the living and true God.