If the answer to our prayers will sometimes be “no,” why do we pray in the first place? I have no doubt that our lists of personal reasons are varied and numerous:
- We believe in God.
- We seek to deepen that relationship with God.
- We thank and praise God for the gifts in our life.
- We seek comfort in our suffering.
- We ask for prayers in our need.
- We pray for others.
- We seek to see what gets in the way of our relationship with God.
- We discern God’s will for us.
I wonder, though, why God wants us to pray. While I am sure many others could articulate this better than I, my own thoughts are:
- God deeply desires a relationship with us.
- God wants all of our lives, so much so, that our way of being with God affects all of our doing. Prayer transforms us interiorly so our outward lives reflect God.
- God wants us to acknowledge our dependence on God. In doing so, we show our trust in God and we acknowledge our great Creator, who has the power to do anything.
What are your thoughts? Why do we pray? Why does God want us to pray?
Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash.