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I spent a year and a half asking God to answer the same prayer. God answered that prayer, but the answer was NO! So why do I continue to pray? Why haven't I decided to just live life playing the cards that I'm dealt?
Well for starters, the purpose of prayer isn't just to ask God for what you want. As you mature spiritually you'll learn that there are many other reasons to pray.
Here are 5 reasons why I continue to pray:
#1 - Give God Thanks Daily
Prayer is a daily opportunity to give God thanks for who God is, what God has done, and to ask God for forgiveness in your shortcomings. You do not have to ask God for something every time you pray. Your prayer can simply be a prayer of adoration, confession, and thanksgiving. Don't wait until you're on your death bed to give God flowers.
#2 - Communicate with the Creator
Prayer is a direct line of communication with the creator. Prayer breaks through the static & chaos of the world that interferes with your ability to hear God's voice. If you aren't talking to God you will have difficulty listening to God.
"Pray hardest when it's hardest to pray."
#3 - Learn & Strengthen Discernment
Prayer teaches & strengthens discernment. Through God's yes, no, and not yet answers to your prayers, you'll learn how to discern the spiritual guidance of God in your life. The goal is for your prayers to align with God's will for your life.
#4 - Activate Your Faith
Prayer activates your faith. Taking time every day to acknowledge who God is and what God has done in your life and the lives of others, activates your faith. Activated faith sparks courageous choices that transform dreams into realities & bears witness to your trust in God.
#5 - Intercession
Prayer is an opportunity to intercede for others. "I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask,it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." That's scripture boo, need I say more?
Keeping it Real
Long seasons of waiting & God's "no" can cause what I refer to as prayer's block. It's when praying becomes hard because your prayers didn't produce the outcomes you hoped for, or you've lost hope. Have you ever been so mad at God that you didn't know what to pray? Maybe like me you've discerned a life altering decision incorrectly, resulting in a fear to continuously pray for your heart's true desires. That's prayer's block. Prayer's block is also prime time for the enemy to run game on you. Fear of praying? It's almost comical. Not today Satan! We know that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear. Pray hardest when it's hardest to pray.
Why do you continue to pray? Share your reason(s) in the comments.