Why do we have to pray if God knows what we need and if He has a plan and a will for us??

Question

Let me re-word: I believe in TALKING to God and having a conversation with him. but the part where we ask for this person to be healed of cancer or that person to get a job. God knows what we need and what is good for us, so why do we bother asking?

Answer 1

this is a great question, and I will try to explain it in the simplest way possible. God does not need us to pray to do what He chooses to do- however, He has given us the greatest privilege of coming to Him prayer, which unites us to Him. Oswald Chambers said- "Prayer does not get God ready to do our will, it gets us ready to do His". In other words, when we pray, if we pray for God's will, we are aligning ourselves with Him and maybe we can even be used to be an answer to someone's prayer. God ordained us to have a personal relationship with Him, and seeking God in prayer is a way that we do that. Does that help at all? I hope so.

Answer 2

Prayer is a technique for keeping people subjugated. Kneeling is a gesture of abject submission to authority.

There is a myth circulated in America to the effect that George Washington kneeled in prayer at Valley Forge. There is absolutely no evidence that he ever did so.

Dictators know that they can keep their victims docile and obedient by keeping them praying. Thus George Bush declares a National Day of Prayer but does not think of endorsing a National Day of Reason. Hmm. I wonder why.

The fundamentalist William Jennings Bryan named as his "favorite hymn": "Trust and obey." Why am I not surpised?

When a people is conditioned to trust and obey, they will trust and obey whatever leaders arise to control them. And there will always be leaders ready to take control. Sheep need a shepherd and peasants need a master.

Self-directed autonomous people follow their own path. Weakened people lacking in moral strength need a leader. "Fuhrer" means "leader".

Answer 3

Prayer resolves the conflicts we have against God's perfect plans for us. Prayer is talking. Discussion. Feedback. Prayer isn't necessarily to make requests. The end of all prayer is "Thy Will be done oh Lord"

Answer 4

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) . . .Always be rejoicing. 17 Pray incessantly. 18 In connection with everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in union with Christ Jesus respecting YOU.
(Philippians 4:6) . . .Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let YOUR petitions be made known to God;

You pray not only when you need something but when you want to give thanks to God for the things he has provided for you.

Answer 5

That would be like saying:
Why do we have to talk to our children when we know what the need anyway, so leave us alone.
Does that sound like a nice thing to say?
He doesn't only want to hear from you when you need something. That would make you more of a pest than anything.

Answer 6

I wonder the same thing
Thats why He told us how to pray...
Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be thy Name
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive those
in debted to us,
and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
as yours is the power and glory forever.
Amen.

Answer 7

Because he already planned for the really stupid people to waste their time praying.

Answer 8

because God loves us and wants to have a real relationship with Him. how could there be a real relationship without communication??

Answer 9

Well, since no gods actually exist, the real power of praying is positive thinking / concentrating / relaxing, etc. It helps you, not fictional characters.

But it doesn't matter who you pray to - praying to big bird will get you the exact same results.

Answer 10

Because it shows our humble dependence on God and not on our own power.