Why do we pray? Part 1 - The Question

My friends,
There are two seemingly elementary, yet fundamental questions that I would like to focus on with this blog for the next month or so. I do not want to post anything besides information on and about these two questions during that time period. I hope that by posting these questions I stir up alot of conversation between you and your spouse, you and your friends and even you and people you don't even know because I really feel that these are two questions worth asking and moreover, they are two questions that warrant us actually rolling up our sleeves, getting a little dirty and trying to find the answers to.

I have to tell you before I even ask these questions that I have been doing some research on these subjects that I will be posting. I would like feedback on the information that I post. If you can add to what I am saying then by all means, please do. If you feel the need to rebuke my information biblically, please do that also. My concern here is not that I am right with my thinking up front but that I am right with my thinking when it is done. If this takes being corrected then I will take pleasure in the fact that I was initially wrong and that someone who knew better cared enough to show me the correct prospective.

Not having a clear ledge to stand on concerning these two subjects has left me on shaky ground for some time now because they are so fundamental to all that we are as followers of Christ. The research that I have done spans over the course of many years and mainly consists of 1) the Bible itself, 2) multiple C.S. Lewis Books and 3) studied sermons from many preachers including Adrian Rogers, James Dobson, Charles Stanley, Charles Spurgeon and last but not least David Platt. I think, if you take the time to look, that all of the preachers mentioned above come to the same fundamental conclusions. However, I like the way that Platt "unwraps the mysteries" of these two perplexing questions. Therefore you will find that my attempts at answering these questions almost mimic Platt and how he tackles them. Now I really have nothing new to say on these subjects but they are subjects worth talking, praying and thinking about and therefore I will post information on them on this blog and HOPE that you will choose to participate.

I am doing this for two reasons - for you and for me. My purpose is mainly a selfish one because I really do want to know the answers. If I take the time to search for them and post what I find then I am bound to learn something, at least I hope I will. If in my studies and prayer on these subjects I find something useful then we will all reap the benefits.

Enough babbling........

The two questions are:

1) Why do we pray?
God knows what we want and what we need right? So why do we pray to Him? What are we doing? In light of the fact of God's sovereignty do we really even need to pray?

2) How should we pray?
Is there actually a right way? Is there a wrong way? What about timing? Is there a specific time that we should pray? Do the same answers apply to the corporate church body as well as each individual?


One more thing......please don't answer right away. Weigh your answer before you speak on it. Even if you don't post an answer please ask yourselves these two simple questions and think about the answers.
Pray about it!