The "Why?" of Prayer

  "Help us, o God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name" (Psalm 79:9).

    In God's view, the motivation of our prayers is likely far more important than their content or duration. 

     "For the glory of Thy name" - this must form the primary intention of our requests, even as the model prayer of the Lord Jesus begins with "Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name" (Matthew 6:9).

     This presents a great and ongoing challenge, of course, because knowing why we do what we do is often the greatest of mysteries.  We must therefore maintain an ongoing communication in prayer related directly to motivation.  "Search me, o God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts" - few requests concerning prayer are as important, and few more reveal that we are likely in tune with "the glory of Thy name" (Psalm 139:23).

    At the end of human history, we shall likely discover that, relatively speaking, very few prayed very much, and very few prayed very well.  The latter aspect of communion with God concerns me the most about my own life.  Perhaps you feel as do I, and if so, let us bow even in this moment to request that the Heavenly Father who gazes into the very center of us will work according to His perfect vision, confirming and enhancing genuinely Christ-exalting motivations, and rooting out reasons for prayer that do not meet the test of His glory, His will, and His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.

"O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether."

(Psalm 139:1-4)