What is prayer?

Prayer is communication between a Father and His children.  In one sense, that is all there is to it.  When prayer seems difficult, and we feel unworthy of asking the Almighty Creator God to answer our seemingly mundane requests, we would do well to remember that Fathers want to talk with their children; and most parents will tell you that the communication is much more important than the topic.

With God, however, prayer is not limited by words, but it is a touching of our spirit, with the Holy Spirit of God, that leads us into relationship with the Father.  This means that we don't need to put into words, but can simply open our heartfelt thoughts and emotions to our Father God. But how can this be, you might ask?   Why would God allow himself to be pestered by millions of prayer requests from us?

The answer is that prayer is a gift.   God has given each and every one of us the opportunity to address him directly. Moreover, not only is prayer a gift in itself, but God answers prayers with further gifts. Jesus teaches "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him". John writes in his epistle, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." As a child of God you are invited to come boldly before His throne.

We would do well to remember that the gift of prayer is given out of God's generosity, and not because we have earned it.  Sinners as well as saints can pray. Because the gift of prayer is a gift from the Almighty Creator, we come into prayer with reverence, and will often start with praise and thanksgiving, focusing on who God is.  But because he is also our Father, we need not fear Him, but can know that God loves us with a greater depth and intensity than any human being is capable of. 

Why should we pray? Prayer brings the power of God to bear on the situations that we are concerned about.  Prayer is one of the ways that God is able to work in our lives and in the lives of others, and it opens new possibilities. So we can freely bring all of our concerns, our thoughts and desires, our hurts and our needs to Him, knowing that He is our loving Father, who wants to hear from us.