Why Pray?

Romans 9-12 

“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy…Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden…’Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved…Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’”

Romans 9:16, 18; 10:1; 12:12

If salvation is dependent on God’s mercy and sovereign grace, why pray for the salvation of others?

Prayer is a two-way relational conversation with the Lord of heaven and earth. It is the Spirit of God within God’s children who moves us to pray for those outside God’s family; and it is the Spirit who intercedes through us and for us. Prayer involves us in God’s salvation-purposes on earth which is why it is important we ask the Lord how we are to pray. We want to respond and agree in prayer with God’s mission-purposes.

Will we ask the Lord how we are to pray for the people he brings into our lives?

We might be the only person naming them before the throne of God.

God is looking for those who will agree with his mission-purposes on earth.

“Lord God, prompt my heart to pray and agree with you for those you are reaching out to in my sphere of relationship or proximity, for your glory.”