Why Pray? Because It’s Our Lifeline

Prayer is an incredible privilege. Imagine the King of the universe inviting us into one-on-one conversation with Him. The thought boggles my mind.

Unfortunately, we sometimes forget the enormity of this privilege and relegate it to the back burner. Family responsibilities consume us. Work commitments and deadlines overrun us. Apathy distracts us.

It’s easy to get things backwards. The King of the universe says, “Spend time with Me. I want to tell you how much I love you,” but we’re too busy to listen. Then we wonder why we struggle with insecurity and fear.

The King says, “Let Me instruct you about how to live each day—who to speak with, what to say, and how to behave,” but we’re on the run. Then we wonder why we struggle with relationships.

The King says, “Let Me teach you about what matters most,” but other voices clamor for our attention. Then we wonder why we feel torn in too many directions.

Prayer is the greater work

Oswald Chambers says,

“Prayer does not equip us for greater works—prayer is the greater work.”

Forgetting this truth, we replace prayer with activities of every sort, albeit many of them necessary and good. I wonder how different our lives would look if we gave it first priority.

Why pray?

Because conversation with the King reminds us that we’re completely dependent upon Him for everything—even our next breath. It helps us get to know Him more intimately and aligns us with His heart and purposes. It keeps us in tune with His Spirit, able to detect His whispers and nudges amidst the noise and clamor around us, and it gives us the courage to obey what He says.

Prayer is not only an incredible privilege—it’s our lifeline. Let’s accept the King’s invitation to one-on-one conversation with Him whether we set time aside for a few minutes a day or we converse with Him throughout the course of the day. Life seasons change and the nature of our prayer life might change with it, but our need to talk with our Heavenly Father will remain the same.