Have you ever wondered why God would ask us to pray if He already knows what’s in our hearts? This question may seem elementary but, it is a valid one.
What Does the Bible Really Teach Us about Prayer?
Is prayer an occasional act that Christians do or is it something that God commands of us? If God is all-knowing, aren’t we telling God what He already knows? If so, then do we really need to pray?
The answer is a firm “yes” and we’re going to find out why.
There are many reasons why the Bible talks about prayer. At the most basic explanation, prayer is our personal communication with God.
The idea of not needing to pray is similar to the idea of not needing to communicate with others, only worse. Humans are social creatures that need interaction with one another but even more so, with God, our Creator.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
Prayer is an imperative part of our relationship with God. It is our fellowship with Him. Through prayer, we offer adoration, thanksgiving, fellowship, and praise to God. All things that God desires from us.
God did not create prayer as a way for Him to find out what we need. As Jesus said, He already knows what we need before we ask Him.
“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).
Instead, prayer is designed as an avenue of communication between God and man. Prayer is equally about God speaking to us as it is about us speaking to God. It is our fellowship with Him.
God wants us to pray for many reasons. One of the most important reasons is to increase our trust and dependence on Him. When we pray, we are learning to put our faith, trust, and dependence solely upon God and not on our own strength.
Prayer expresses our trust in God to do what we cannot do on our own. It also increases our faith and trust in Him. In fact, the Bible emphasizes that we are to pray with faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Who Can Pray?
Though God desires that everyone would pray, the reality is that prayer is not for everyone. Prayer is exclusively for the Christian. This doesn’t mean that everyone can’t pray. It means the only prayer that God hears is the one made through His son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
But you may wonder why God may answer a prayer of an unbeliever. Out of His mercy, God can from time to time answer an unbeliever to draw them towards him.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
God will use these situations out of His mercy to show himself as the way of salvation. As mentioned earlier, prayer is something that has many uses. One of them being, to usher in God’s plan into existence. This is something that only a Christian would desire to pray for.
Only a Christian can come into agreement with the Holy Spirit in prayer. The duty to pray goes beyond us and our selfish needs.
Why is this important? Because prayer is something that can be rejected by God if his conditions are not met.
Prayer Connects Us to What God Is Doing
Prayer is a means in which God uses to enlist us, believers, into what He is doing. The Bible doesn’t teach prayer as a selfish act. Prayer is selfless and meant to serve God’s purpose.
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:18).
As we see in Ephesians, God intends for us to intercede for one another’s needs. To do this, we must be connected with the Holy Spirit and walk in His power.
The Condition of the Heart
If God has conditions regarding prayer, what are they? The most important might be the condition of our hearts. God truly knows what’s in our hearts and the reality is our hearts are in need of transformation.
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9).
If we rely on God knowing what’s in our hearts without involving prayer, we open ourselves up to falling away from God. This is relying on works and not faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5).
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you — they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Prayer is commanded by God’s Word for reasons such as fellowship with Him, intercession, and encouragement for the body of Christ but most importantly, as a means to change the heart.
Through prayer, we fellowship with God, and He begins to work in us, making us more like His Son Jesus. Without prayer, we are spiritually dead, but we must come to God with sincere hearts, humbled before Him, and pray in the name of Jesus.
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
What Hinders Prayer?
As mentioned, prayer can be hindered when there are things in our hearts that do not please God. It is important that we pray and not rely on God knowing our hearts as our hearts need cleansing. Here are things that hinder God from answering our prayers:
- Clinging to the sin in our hearts
- Unforgiveness
- Praying with pride
Sin is the main barrier to effective prayer. This is why it is important to present our hearts before God, that He may change us of our ways.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Psalm 66:18).
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Jesus describes our hearts as similar to a treasure chest that stores things that are valuable to us. What’s in our hearts can very much separate us from the goodness of God.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Keeping ourselves free of sin will make us more effective in prayer. Unforgiveness is another strong barrier to our prayer life:
“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15).
Jesus makes it clear to us that forgiveness is absolutely essential before ever approaching Him in prayer.
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Matthew 11:25).
Why Does This Matter?
Lastly, if we want to be heard by God, we must pray with humility and reject all pride.
As we studied today, the heart is not reliable before God. God does know our hearts but His Word commands us to pray as it connects us with the body of Christ and what the Holy Spirit is doing (Romans 8:26-27). We are called to pray and have fellowship with God and intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
For further reading:
What Is Prayer? Why Do We Pray?
Does God Expect Us to Pray without Ceasing?
What Does it Mean That ‘God Knows’?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes
This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
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Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery
Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
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The Lord's Prayer: Our Father
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