Why I Pray

I had planned to wax eloquently on the theological reasons for why I pray, such as: 

• I believe in the power of God; 

• To commune with God;

• To align my will with God’s will; 

• I believe God answers prayer. 

Don’t get me wrong, I affirm all these reasons for prayer. I do believe in the power of God, and I do believe God answers prayer. In my prayers I do seek God’s will. I do seek communion with God in prayer as well. 

But as I was thinking about this topic, one morning in bed, I thought to myself, “I pray because I feel obligated to.”

That’s right. Because I feel like I should pray, I pray.

And I don’t mean that I pray so I will earn salvation — and even if I did, so what? God isn’t opposed to effort. God isn’t opposed to our good works, and isn’t prayer one of those good things he’s prepared us to do? One of the spiritual works of mercy is to pray for others. 

I feel I should pray, and so I do. 

I don’t regret my motive, since I don’t feel burdened to pray. It’s wonderful knowing that I can bring my concerns to God and he will, in his plan, rectify the situation.

If I feel overwhelmed by something that’s out of my control—and that’s quite often—knowing God is in control helps dissipate the anxiety I have over the concern. I can ask him to do something about it, and that makes me feel better. 

I can’t reverse the trends in my church, the Anglican Church of Canada. But God can. So I pray. 

I can’t build a ministry in my parish unless “the Lord builds the house.” Thank God. And so I pray. 

I can’t help somebody with their feelings of stress that comes during a time of homework. But God intervenes. And so I pray. 

I’m scared about being a bad parent. But God can be a better one than me to my child. So I pray. 

Prayer is not our way to a cosmic vending machine, but a means of communion with God. So we receive the good and the bad from God in our time of prayer— or rather, what we perceive to be the bad. 

When I pray, “Your will be done,” do I mean it? Maybe I ought to ask for grace as well, to accept how God is calling me to the cross in a situation. He is in control. He is merciful. So I pray. 

I feel obligated to pray. But that doesn’t mean my prayer life isn’t good or fruitful.

I pray because I feel I should, and as I pray throughout the day, thinking of all the things in my life, I start to trust in God, who has the ability to do more than I can ever ask or imagine.

Yes obligation is my motivation to pray. But then I remember and encounter God, and I’m motivated in a different way to continue praying.

I’d love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments: Why do you pray?