God already knows what we want and need – the latter, probably far better than we ever will.
He knows Who He is, and how powerful, and how magnificent, generous, kind, just, worthy of praise ….
He is not Tinkerbelle, that He needs our applause to bring Him back from some deathly torpor – for He does not slumber nor sleep.
So what is the purpose of prayer?
My best guess is that its purpose is to help us realize how much we owe Him, how much we need Him, how much He loves us and wants to hear our voices and hearts, and see our downcast or upturned faces – however stained with tears or illuminated with joy – yearning to see Him and hear Him and know His comfort.
Prayer is a gift, you see, that transcends any answer He might give to any request we might pose or any praise we might offer or any thanksgiving we might express. It is our connection with God through His Son, through His very Spirit; our chance to touch God the Father, Creator and King – and for Him to touch us.
A few moments in His lap each day. Or an entire waking lifetime in recognition of His presence.
It’s His gift to us. It’s our gift to Him.
That’s my best guess at the purpose of prayer.
What’s yours?
Blog In My Own Eye 
Keith, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were psychic or something. Because, believe it or not, this was the direction my next post was gonna go in. After looking at the example of Jesus in the garden in the last post, and the idea that we don’t always get what we ask for, I was gonna basically ask, “So what is the purpose of prayer, then??? There <>must<> be some other purpose that it serves.”But before I’ve even had the chance to ask it, Keith, you’ve answered my question with words that speak straight to my soul.Thanks for sharing your insight. Much love!
I’m the kind of person that just loses touch with other people pretty easy. If I don’t talk to them or see them regularly, I just go on with my life and don’t think about them anymore.For me, prayer is my way to stay in touch with God. Sometimes it just feels good to go sit with him and talk for a while. He already knows what I’m thinking but it’s good for me to say it out loud.
I think for me prayer is a built-in sincerity meter. It shows just how important I really think an issue or concern is if I don’t take it to the Lord. It has pointed out to me a serious short-coming in myself. Too much “lip service” and not enough “heart service”.