Why should we invest the time and energy it takes to pray?

This was a question taken up by John Piper in a sermon pray like this, hallowed be your

name, which he preached on December 30th, 2007, here's what Pastor John said.

Number one, because we're told to so many times, over and over and over again, here's

a few. James 5, 16. God tells us to pray. Pray for one another that you may be healed.

How many sicknesses are there in the church? Because they don't pray for each other.

That God would be willing to heal. First, Thessalonians 5, 17, pray without ceasing.

Luke 22, 40, pray that you may not enter into temptation, that you may not enter into

temptation, Luke 18, 1. He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and

not lose heart. Luke 6, 28, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. You

know rotten situation, getting ripped off, being lied about, pray, pray, pray for them.

Matthew 6, 9, pray like this, our Father in heaven. That's number 1. We pray because dozens

of times in Bible, we're told to pray. And God loves us. He wouldn't tell us to do something

that's bad for us. It's good for us. Number two, we pray because it is a means to the increase

of our joy. Now you might think, well that's what we expect you to say, but you expect me to say

it because I'm a Christian hedonist, but the case is I'm a Christian hedonist because of

texts like this that blew me away 35 years ago. John 16, 24, until now, Jesus said, you have asked

nothing in my name, ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. Ask, ask because in coming

to me as a needy person and depending upon me for everything you need, your joy will be fuller

than if you try to get that neednet another way. He wants you happy in him and he says, ask and your

joy will be full. Number three, because it is simply a staggeringly awesome privilege. It is

simply a staggeringly awesome privilege. Now you got to think of this. We just we just must be

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