Why do we pray?

Is it because we want something or because we want someone?

Because at the end of the day, if we come before God

and pray for only our needs and don't get me wrong,

he wants to hear our needs.

But if the thing that motivates us to pray

is because we need something, then ultimately,

we're treating God like a genie in the bottle

that's just there for us for every back and call and need.

Rather, going back to that analogy,

being like a son or a daughter who sits on their father's lap

simply because they want to spend time with their father.

It is so important we recognize this relationship

that we have with God.

As J.R. Packer said, if you want to judge

how well a person understands Christianity,

find out how much he makes of the thought of being God's child

and having God as his father.

If this is not the thought that prompts and controls

his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life,

it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.

Let's pray before we pray on our pray.

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