NOVEMBER 2018

WHY DO WE NEED TO PRAY?

For the month of  – November  I want to put the subject of prayer under the microscope and look at why you and I need to pray.

A Christian philosopher who was also a scientist - Blaise Pascal (1623-62) wrote, "The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing … " Over the next few months I am going to serialise why we need to pray.

God's Word Calls YOU and I to Pray!

The primary reason we need to pray is because God has commanded us to do so. If we are to be obedient to His will, then prayer must be part of our life when we are in relationship with Him. Where does the Bible call us to prayer? There are several passages that are relevant:

• "Pray for those who persecute you" –Matthew 5:44 (NIV) [1] 
• "And when you pray …" –Matthew 6:5 
• "This, then, is how you should pray …" –Matthew 6:9 
• "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." –Romans 12:12 
• "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." –Ephesians 6:18 
• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." –Philippians 4:6 
• "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." –Colossians 4:2 
• "Pray continually" -1 Thessalonians 5:17 
• "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone …" -1 Timothy 2:1

Prayer is an act of obedience. God  has called you to pray and if you are intending to establish a working relationship with Him you need to respond by so doing. 

Scriptures are taken from the NIV (New International Version)