Why do we pray?

• Are we asking God to help us?
• Are we trying to manipulate God into doing what we want?
• Do we want to thank and praise God?
• Do we just want to talk to our Savior?

The truth is we probably have prayed for all these reasons at one point or another. However, here’s something to consider…

Prayer is less about us trying to change/persuade God and is more about us being changed by God.

When we pray, by definition, we are admitting that we can’t handle things on our own. We must humble ourselves and remember who is the source of all Good things.

Oftentimes, God’s answer to our prayers includes changing us. Think about it.

If prayer were about getting God to do what we want, we would be making God more like us. God is good and He is perfect, but our will isn’t good or perfect. So, if He became more like us that wouldn’t be good.

Instead, prayer is more about us being transformed by God to be more like Him. As He acts, we can see that His will is better than ours. His will is good and pleasing. His will is perfect. Not only can we praise God for His goodness, but our minds start to be transformed to think more like Christ, or at least trust that God’s will is truly good, pleasing, and perfect.

We can even pray for God to change us.

Prayer has a natural way of changing us, but it is also good for us to consciously and intentionally humble ourselves and ask God to change our hearts and minds to be more like Him. What a wonderful prayer to think and act more like Jesus!

Add to that spending time reading and studying God’s Word in the Bible and listening to His Word preached, and we have a good foundation to push back against the pattern of this world and by transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father,

I have many needs and desires. I pray that You would provide for my needs, knowing that You are the giver of all good things. I also pray that You would make my desires line up with Your desires. Change my heart, oh God. Transform me that I might see Your will, which is good and perfect, and glorify Your name

Amen.

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.