Connecting With Jesus

*The Heart and Purpose of Prayer*


Prayer is the way we communicate with God. As mysterious as it might seem to talk directly with the Almighty, the Bible assures us that prayer is a two-way conversation between God and us.

God made sure humanity has the opportunity to tell Him our concerns, worries, requests, and praises.

But prayer is more than just talking to God. It’s a time to listen for the voice of God as well.

So how does it all work?

Let’s learn more about:

Why and how we pray

What affects our prayers

Different types of prayers

How Jesus prayed, and
What we can learn from Him

A young woman with her hands folded in prayer and looking up.

WHY AND HOW WE PRAY—AND TO WHOM?

A
When you think of God, who He is, and how He relates to mankind, what picture do you see? Too often He is pictured as a God who is distant from humans. Some think He is a God who has no dealings of communication with man. But the Bible paints a very different picture.

In scripture, the Almighty God seeks to have an intimate connection with His children. How we can commune with Him is through the means of prayer.

We can pray directly to Him, in the name of His son Jesus, who died for our redemption. We don’t need a mediator in our communication with God, as Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Jesus prayed, in John 17:20-21, for his disciples, and for all who would believe in Christ through their word. His prayer was that they “may be one” in God.

How powerful! Jesus’ prayer was the desire of the Creator of the universe, dwelling in the flesh. He was praying that all who hear the word of God will have an experience of trusting God through a love relationship with Him.

This is the heart of prayer, to experience God’s presence in your life.

Furthermore, when we get to know God through prayer, we become aligned with His will.

When Moses went up to receive the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel rebelled. They worshipped the golden calf. As Moses returned, he was distraught and upset they had so soon forgotten God’s ways and His goodness. So Moses prays. But take note of this powerful prayer.

“Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people” (Exodus 33:13, NKJV).

Moses understood the heart and purpose of prayer. He prayed he might know God and have a deeper experience with Him. But notice that he prays, “…show me now Your way…” to know God.

The word “way” found in this verse can be translated in two different forms throughout scripture.

The first is like a pathway, it’s the direction or journey that God desires for us to walk down.

The second is more than this. It’s the actions, conduct and manner God desires us to display on this journey.

Simply put, Moses sought the Lord to know Him. This looked like aligning himself with the impulses and mission of the God of the universe.

This was a prayer of faith from the lips of Moses. It was plain and simple. It wasn’t some performance, but a real conversation with God.

A young man holding a Bible and praying.
But there’s just one problem. It’s good to seek God’s pathway. Furthermore, it’s good to seek how we are to live and represent Him on that pathway. But where does one get the power to do it?

This has been the cry of humanity throughout history. Paul pens it this way, “…to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (Romans 7:18, NKJV).

But returning to the prayer of Moses, God provides the answer.

“…My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14, ESV).

That’s the answer. The answer is His presence. God’s presence in your life through the Holy Spirit dwelling in you will bring power. It will bring peace, and Christ in your heart (Acts 1:8; John 14:26,27; Ephesians 3:16,17).

God’s very presence can be experienced through prayer.

“Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him,” said Ellen G. White, a prominent founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Prayer is the means given to humanity that provides the power to align their lives with God. Through prayer, we may know and experience His grace in our lives.

Prayer is so much more than reciting a wishlist. We don’t want to limit God to a cosmic vending machine when He desires to be so much more in our lives. He wants to be our character builder, our loving Father who refines us as we grow and mature.

When life is good and easy, or when life is tough and hard, He invites us to seek His will in the midst of it all. To live conscious of His presence, and be at peace (Isaiah 26:3).

Furthermore, He calls us to not only seek Him in prayer but to have faith, believing that He will answer (Mark 11:24).