Why Do People Pray Today

QUESTION: Why do people pray today?

ANSWER:

More than at anytime in history, people are seeking answers to life’s struggles, problems, and challenges. Natural and man-made disasters are causing more and more stress in people, and their lives are under intense pressure. Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, countries in debt -- it is hard to comprehend the pressure these exert upon families struggling to make ends meet and survive.

Modern lifestyles are increasingly materialistic as people look to possessions to fill a perceived gap in their life. Frequently, they look for religious experiences, preferring New Age mystical experiences, or even occult involvement, to the Christian faith based upon the Bible, the Word of God.

• Muslims pray because they are commanded to (5 times a day) and strict guidelines are laid down for this.
  
  
• Buddhists don’t (strictly speaking) pray. They are seeking something within themselves.
  
  
• Hindus pray and offer gifts to one of their many gods.
  
  
• Christians meet with God in prayer, as a child would meet his parent, because they have a direct relationship with Him. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, expressed His love to us by living as we would, and ultimately giving His life on the cross in our place so that we can have this relationship.

Jesus gave us an example of how to pray. This prayer is commonly known as The Lord’s Prayer. It is a prayer Jesus taught His apostles in Matthew 6:9-13.

"This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:14 says, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

While praying, we need to address God respectfully. We acknowledge who He is (that He is in Heaven), His holiness, and our need for His forgiveness. We acknowledge our position of dependence upon Him as provider of all our needs.