1) Prayer connects you to something bigger that yourself. Let’s face it, most days most of our concerns are pretty small. We worry about our jobs, our commutes, our bank accounts, what we’re going to have for dinner, whether Gina from accounting really likes us, or if just playing with us. And there’s nothing wrong with that; it only makes sense to be concerned with the stuff that’s right there in front of you every day.
The thing is, there’s whole lot more to existence than what is right in front of us every day! The world’s a big place, filled with all kinds and sorts of people, and we Christians believe that over, in, above, beneath, and through it all is God, who is all in all. And prayer gives you a great opportunity to move a bit beyond the personal and the mundane and connect to something larger—and that connection can provide direction, and sense of purpose, and a greater ability to handle what life throws at you.
2) Prayer lets you bring your personal concerns before God. You know, we’ve all got stuff going on in our lives: relationships, jobs, families, and our physical, emotional and mental health, to name just a few. Some of that stuff is great, but others of it—maybe not so much. And sometimes, you just need a place to put all of the stuff going on in your life—the good, the bad, all of it. And prayer gives you a place to put all of that. With prayer, you’re never really alone, because you always have God to listen. You can bring God all of your stuff—the good and the bad; the successes and the failures; the stuff you’re proud of, and the stuff that maybe you’re not so proud of. It doesn’t matter what it is, God if there—and ready to help you shoulder the load!
3) Prayer helps you be more empathetic. Sure, when you pray some of your prayers are going to be about you—but they shouldn’t all be. Intercessory prayer, when you pray for the needs of others, gives you a chance to show some concern for others, to try to see life from a larger point of view, to feel more connected to the world around you and to those who share the world with you. It’s a chance to “love your neighbor as yourself,” as Jesus would say.
4) Prayer reminds you that you’re never really alone. It may seem strange, but the fact of the matter is that even with all of the ways we have to connect with others these days, the research shows that people feel more isolated than ever. Maybe you do, too, sometimes. But prayer reminds that we’re actually never alone, and that God is always with us, that “bidden or not bidden, God is always present,” always caring, always loving, always wanting what is best for us. And sometimes we all need to be reminded of that.
5) Prayer is a way of confessing that you can’t do it all on your own. Sure, we’re all supposed to be high-achievers who can paint a portrait, cook a gourmet meal, rebuild an engine, and learn French, and do it all by ourselves . . . but the reality is different. Like can be tough, and sometimes we all need to be reminded that we’re not necessarily responsible for everything, all the time. Prayer can be a great way of admitting what we already know----and looking for a little help sometimes.
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