Devotional #116

Question 116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?

Answer: Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us (a): and also, because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of him, and are thankful for them (b).

(a) Psalm 50:14-15: Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

(b) Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Luke 11:9-10: And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Luke 11:13: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.

For your personal reflection:
For a follower of Christ living without prayer is akin to the natural man/woman to live without air.  Prayer is our lifeline to God.  Fundamentally, prayer is the longing of the heart made new for its Creator.  Too often, we think that to be mature in prayer is to follow a prescibed formula or to articulate profound prayers.  Paul, though, tells us in Romans 8 (26-27) that very often the most true prayer is simply a groan or sigh expressed by the disciple who can offer no language to describe the reality and/or desire of their heart.
What is prayer?
How do you pray?  Is it “working” for you?