Very simply put, prayer is communication with God. Prayer is very important in the life of a Christian because it along with Bible intake is the lifeblood of a close and constant fellowship with the Lord. We might tend, however, to think of prayer primarily in terms of asking God for things, or entreating Him to do something for us or others. While prayer should include supplications or requests, it is also in prayer that the Christian confesses his sins, and also offers to God the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15). A helpful way to remember these important components of prayer is with the acronym, ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplications.

It is concerning the fourth aspect of prayer, “supplications” that Christians have the most questions. Like, “Why ask God for things if He already knows what I need?” Or, “If God has already ordained whatever comes to pass, why pray since His will is going to be done whether I pray or not?” The answer to the question, “Why pray?” should first be addressed by indicating that God commands us to pray. If the Christian is to be obedient to God, he must pray! Second, in prayer we show our dependence on and trust in the Lord. With both God is very well pleased! Third, prayer is one of the means God uses to bring about His will. For example, it is God’s will for plants to grow, but He uses the means of sunshine and rain to cause that growth. In the same way, God brings about His will through the prayers of His people. What a privilege to be a part of what God is doing in this universe! What a blessing to be in constant fellowship with the God of the universe through prayer! May each of us become more consistent in our prayer lives!