Prayer - What is it For?

by Pastor Ronald Boelte

I am reading a very interesting book by Dutch Sheets called "Intercessory Prayer; How God can use your prayers to move heaven and earth" What I find so interesting is the fact that he asks so many questions in his first chapter and I was not sure how to answer all of them and it really did make me think of my prayer life and what I believe about prayer. I am going to share some of the questions with you and see if they spark some insight about prayer in you. 

These questions are from his book.

• Is prayer really necessary? If so why? Isn't God sovereign? Doesn't that mean He accomplishes what He wants, when He wants? If so, why pray?
• Is God's will for a Christian automatically guaranteed or is it linked to prayer and other factors?
• Why does it often take so long to get a prayer answered? Why is persistence required? Jacob wrestled with God. Is that what we are to do in prayer? I don't like the thought of wrestling with God, do you?
• What exactly is intercessory prayer? And don't just tell me it's "standing in the gap." enough religious quotes and spiritual jargon. I know the thought is taken from the Bible, but what does it mean?
• What about protection? Is everything that happens to me or my family simply allowed by God? Or is there something I need to do to procure our safety?
• How do we "bear one another's burdens"?
• Is there a right time for answers to prayer or does the timing depend on me?

These are just a few of the questions that he asked in the first chapter of his book and I hope they have sparked in you the desire to look closer at your prayer life.