A fundamental doctrine of Christianity is God’s omniscience. Once you realize that God knows everything, you naturally come to the question, why should I pray? I’m not going to tell God anything He doesn’t already know. He knows who He is better than I know Him, so why praise Him? He knows what I’ve done, so why confess my sins? He knows what I need, so why should I ask anything of Him?
There is a simple and sufficient answer to the question. We should pray because God has commanded us to pray. That is enough. Nothing more is needed.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name….”
6 [D]o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[P]ray without ceasing….
There are many other such passages. I think that anyone familiar with the Bible will acknowledge that the Scriptures command us to pray.
But going beyond the command, in reading a commentary on John 17, I ran across the following quote that I think is helpful in understanding why we should pray.
Remember, as we study this chapter [Jesus' High Priestly Prayer of John 17], how evidently we are taught that prayer is not intended to move the heart of God — no need for that. The Lord will have His people pray, in order that they may assure their own hearts, by bringing their need, their difficulties, and their cases before Him whom they have been taught to know as able and willing to help them. Prayer is the promise sent back in faith and confidence for the performance; and the prayer of faith is a testimony to the same. No other inducements are needed, the Saviour’s prayer has taught us this.
[Our Lord Prays For His Own: Thoughts on John 17, by Marcus Rainsford]
We live our faith by praying, for prayer is expressing our explicit trust in God.
Why pray? Because God has commanded us to, and as His children, we trust Him.
