If I can not receive God with out prayer, then why is prayer so important?

Question

It is a catch 22 thing. I would pray if I believe,but if I don't believe then why should I pray?
As soon as one prays to any God, He surrenders to that idea of God. Why should any one surrender to an idea?

Answer 1

I think you answered your own questions. If you cannot receive God without a prayer, then prayer becomes important to find and receive God.

The easy answer to why surrender to an idea? Because the idea is worthy of your surrender. We have all surrendered to ideas. It is just the nature of the way things are. If you do not believe in God, then you surrendered to that idea. You see, as soon as someone does not pray, he may well be surrendering to that idea.

Faith precedes the miracle. God is a God of miracles. Always has been and always will be. But the truly great miracles are usually reserved for the faithful because those lacking faith will just find a way to rationalize it all away. Humans are really good at that. However, if we will start with just a tiny particle of faith, even if it is no more than a desire to know, that is a starting point. Plant that seed of faith in your heart (start with prayer) and see if it doesn't grow. And as that seed grows, ask yourself if you like it and I'll bet that you will think it is very delicious and enjoyable. So, then you do more to take care of that plant and make sure that it grows a little more each day. Before you know it, you will be full of faith and wondering why you ever doubted.

God lives. He loves you. He does not force Himself upon you. He wants you to willingly accept Him. If He forces yourself upon you, then no conversion can take place.

Give it a try. What have you got to lose?

Answer 2

Prayer is a privilege and an obligation of the Christian where we communicate with God. It is how we convey our confession (1 John 1:9), requests (1 Tim. 2:1-3), intercessions (James 5:15), thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), etc., to our holy God. We are commanded to pray (1 Thess. 5:17).

Some personal requirements of prayer are a pure heart (Psalm 66:18), belief in Christ (John 14:13), and that the prayer be according to God's will (1 John 5:13). We can pray standing (Neh. 9:5), kneeling (Ezra 9:5), sitting (1 Chron. 17:16-27), bowing (Exodus 34:8), and with lifted hands (1 Tim. 2:8).