Do We Really Have to Pray?

Everybody knows the answer to the question, “Do we really have to pray?” is, “Yes.” “Prayer is a necessary part of the Christian life,” we might respond. But if asked the follow up question, “Do you pray as a Christian should?” most of us would have to embarrassingly answer, “Nope.” Why is it that a people who follow a Lord, whose life depended on prayer, don’t pray (or at least not very much)?


There is a truth we haven’t accepted. The Jesus who taught us to pray and told us to pray is the God who waits for us to pray before He acts. If you will really believe this truth, it will transform your prayer life and become your greatest motivation to pray. The plans God has for our future, the marvelous things He wants and promises to do, He has made them all dependent upon prayer. Its not that God can’t do anything if we don’t pray (He created and maintains the universe regardless of prayer), it is rather that God has determined that before He will act to help and bless His people, He will wait for them to pray.


In the Old Testament book of Exodus, Moses and God’s people escaped from Egypt and were being chased by Pharaoh’s army. God led His people right to the edge of the Red Sea; they were trapped and faced certain slaughter. It wasn’t until Moses called out to God for help that God told him to raise his staff and the sea parted. Why didn’t God just go ahead and have the Red Sea parted and waiting for His people when they arrived? Because He waits for us to pray.


Daniel, the prophet, realized the time had arrived when God promised to let His people leave Babylon and return to Israel (Daniel 9). So Daniel began a long period of intense fasting and prayer. So I turned to the LORD God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting (Daniel 9:3, NLT). This was in addition to Daniel’s normal routine of praying three times a day. Why didn’t Daniel just go about life as normal and wait for something to happen? Why didn’t he act presumptuously, pack his bags and start out on the journey? Because Daniel understood God waits and will not act until we ask.


Do you wonder why the things you want God to do don’t happen? Are you under the false assumption that God just does things for His people? Will you accept this truth: You do not have, because you do not ask God (James 4:2b, NIV).


We all want our church to grow and succeed in bringing those far from God near Him thru Christ. This will require much work. But the first work God’s people must do is pray as Jesus taught us and the apostles modeled for us: pray together.