Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches us that prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. It is the means by which we can come to the throne of grace in the power of the Holy Spirit and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). The biblical purpose of prayer is not just to get things for ourselves, but to nourish the life of God in us. This is in stark contrast to our common ideas regarding prayer, which often view it as a means of getting things for ourselves.

The Bible also teaches us that prayer should be a regular part of our lives. The book of Daniel, for example, tells us that Daniel "went to his house, where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem, and he got down upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously" (Daniel 6:10). Similarly, the apostle Peter tells us that we should "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This does not mean that we should pray constantly, but rather that we should be in a constant state of prayer, talking to God throughout the day.

The Bible also emphasizes the importance of faith in prayer. Jesus tells us that we should pray with faith, trusting that God will answer our prayers (Mark 11:22-24). The Bible also teaches us that prayer is a personal communion with a personal God, not an abstract force or a cosmic consciousness. Jesus himself encouraged us to pray many times, and the apostle Paul tells us that we should pray with gratitude and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7). Ultimately, the Bible teaches us that prayer is a powerful means of communicating with God, and that it is a vital part of the Christian life.