JEREMIAH 29:11-14 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

THEME OF THE DAY: WHY PRAY?   So, what is crossing our minds with that two-word question – why pray?  Let me offer some reasons which will surely be met with agreement.

We pray because God commands us to pray. The Apostle Paul points this out in numerous places, and here is one – “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  We also pray out of dependency.  Again, the Apostle Paul.  He gives a personal testimony of his reliance upon prayer, and that from God’s people – “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many” (2 Corinthians 1:11). A third reason we pray is to model the Lord Jesus.  All of life is to be patterned after Him.  When the Lord washed the disciples’ feet, He said, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:13-15). Yes, the context is humble self-denying service, but the exhortation to follow Jesus’ example extends beyond.  He models prayer.  He taught prayer. We follow His example in service and conduct to include prayer.

There is one more reason to pray.  It is implied in today’s scripture.  And I have concluded in my own walk with the Lord that this is the chief reason to pray.  It also will be the most motivating truth to pray and develop an effective prayer life that isn’t just about asking God for things or to vaguely bless people. The motivator? God wants us to pray because He wants us to know Him.

Look again at today’s scripture. I know it is familiar but observe the heart of God.  There are a couple of promises He makes. Center our attention on the chief one.  The Lord promises us Himself – “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD”.  What an amazing promise!  God wants us to experience the greatest thing possible for a human being – Him.  And He sets the requirement – prayer.  It is the type of praying that is seeking, and seeking not for things, but for Him.

As we ponder the overwhelming truth of God’s offer to be known by Him through our seeking prayer, something else may be seen in God’s heart.  He wants us to seek Him.  Why? He wants our company. He wants our fellowship. He saved us for Himself.

So, when we struggle with prayer, stop and remember God wants us to seek Him.  Let His desire for us to pray become our chief motivation, not just to ask Him for something, but to be with Him to enjoy Him.  It will change how we pray, the frequency in our praying, and its fervency.

PRAYER: Father, may I know those seasons of prayer that all I want is to be with You to enjoy the fellowship.

REFLECTION:  Let the desire of God for our fellowship be the highest motive to develop our prayer lives.