When a seemingly obvious question like “Why should we pray”, those who have been at it for a long time seem to inwardly sneer at it. I know I have at times. Especially when it is coming from someone who I think should know better. But I have come to learn that the why question always calls me to the purpose question. Let me explain.

Dr. Myles Munroe has said on several occasions that if you do not know the why of anything, you will always abuse it. Think about it

• That’s why husbands batter their wives and wives emotionally abuse their children and the circle goes on.
• That’s why we get overloaded buses
• That’s why we get governments that syphon public funds for their own selfish motives

The why question always brings up the purpose question.

So perhaps we should be asking ourselves what the purpose of prayer is. For the majority of us, it is basically a shopping list of “God do this for me”or “Get me that” or “Bless the food” and “Help me pass”.

I would like to suggest to you that we should pray because it is the very lifeblood of our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the one aspect of the communication protocol that he has established to commune with us.

Think of a circle: along that line somewhere at the top is the Lord who is primarily speaking to us through his Word (the Bible) and somewhere along the bottom is you and me speaking to him in prayer.

And remember too that this is a love relationship. We are to love him with all our hearts, all our soul and all our strength. You are always eager to talk with someone you love. Admit it.

Sms, facebook message, long phone calls, a walk in the park together. The being together is enough for you to forgo some of the activities you hold dear. You want to be with your loved one and commune.

So yes, stuff happens in that spectrum of communication: loving, asking, praising, worshiping, commanding, proclaiming, repenting, adoring…get my drift.

The purpose of prayer is to commune with Jesus, the one who loved us enough to die for us on the cross for our salvation. Loved us enough to rise from the dead and go to heaven to prepare a place for you and me.

If you stop praying, you are slowly smothering the fellowship that keeps loved ones talking for hours on end. You simply are dying. So guard your prayer discipline with all jealousy knowing that you have a healthy prayer life, you are truly living.