Discover why prayer is an indispensable part of a healthy relationship with God.

“But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

IDEA: Prayer enables us to live in communion with our Father in heaven.

PURPOSE: To help listeners think about what happens when they pray.
Have you ever wondered whether our prayers are really unnecessary?
Do you find it comforting to know that God knows our needs better than we do?
Doesn’t that lead to the question, “Is there any real need for us to pray at all?” – It’s nice but unnecessary?

I. Can you think of other reasons for prayer besides getting things from God?
Through prayer we enter into communion, into a personal relationship with God the Father.
In human relationships speech is a necessary element in fellowship.
What happens in marriages in which couples no longer to speak each other? Why?
Does the importance of speech in a friendship mean that friends need to be talking with each other all the time? What is the difference in a friendship where friends walk together in silence and one in which they refuse to talk with each other?
What is the significance to the assertion by the apostle John, “In the beginning was the Word . . .”?

II. Although God has spoken to us, we must cultivate fellowship with Him by speaking with Him.
Only when we come before Him and express in our words everything that distresses us can we really experience His peace.
Have you ever thought about making a list of what you want to talk to the Father about?
Have you ever discovered after you have prayed that you have been changed by the experience?
When we stop talking with God and cease living in communication with Him, then all we do is end up talking about God. After a time we might talk neither with God nor even about Him.