P.R.A.Y.E.R. - Purpose

I have to admit that doing a 7 part series on prayer is a daunting task. I feel very inadequate to take this on but yet I have come to recognize how truly important the issue of prayer is in our spiritual journey. Recognizing the importance of prayer is a significant step that we must all take because it is only then that we will pursue it with the intentionality that is required. I would imagine that few people are ever truly satisfied with their prayer life so we can all paddle together in the same boat.

What is the Purpose of prayer?

Prayer is how we treat God - as God.

This is true in a couple of key aspects. First, prayer is unique to our relationship with God. We don’t experience prayer in any other relationship that we have. Also, prayer is the sole method that God chose for us to be able to communicate with him. He communicates with us in a number of ways (including prayer) but prayer is really our only method of communicating with Him. We can talk about God, learn about God, and enjoy the fruits of a relationship with God but the only way that we can directly communicate with God is through prayer. Thus, prayer is truly treating God - as God.

Another key purpose of prayer is that a healthy prayer life gives us a “spiritual mooring” for our lives. A boat that is “moored” means that it is tied to something or anchored. if it wasn’t moored, then it would just drift aimlessly in the sea riding the currents of the moment. Prayer provides a “mooring” that anchors us back to God each time we come to Him in prayer and keeps us from being adrift. As we pursue the goal of a life filled with continual prayer, we should never lose our mooring.

Lastly, prayer reorients us by taking us to a higher elevation. When we go on a hike, all that we are able to see is what is immediately around us until we reach a peak and then we are able to see where we are in relation to everything else.

In the same way, prayer brings us perspective as it helps us to see ourselves in the context of life’s bigger eternal story

As you think about your prayer life, remember that it is how God chose for us to come to Him, stay close to Him and help us see our lives through His eyes.

Stay hungry for Him,

Big E