10 Reasons I Pray

Recently I went to the beach for a 10-day prayer retreat by myself.A 10-day prayer retreat?  By yourself?Yes.But why?  And how can you pray for 10 days?  Well, I love time by myself.  And there are so many people and things to pray for/about. (And I do some other things besides prayer--Bible study and reading and writing.)The harder question is “Why pray?”  Here are a few of the reasons:1.      God  Himself desires fellowship with me!!!!!!!!! How can I turn that down!?!2.    I am so grateful for what God has done for me, so I respond to His love and desire to be with me.3.    I am desperate--in my own sinfulness, inadequacy, unworthiness. He is the only way to forgiveness and hope and purpose.4.    When I listen to Him--through His Word, in stillness and quietness--He lavishes love and grace and affirmation on me.  And gives me wisdom and guidance and courage.5.    The work of God is done on our knees.  Then we go find out what happened.6.    The task of living the Christ-life is way beyond me--I must go to Him.7.    I have so many people I want Him to touch--I must keep bringing them to Him.8.    The world is so dark and lost.  He is the light and the way.9.    Satan is a roaring lion, seeking to devour, deceive, and destroy. He loves to go after God’s servants, and especially their children. I feel compelled to stand against him, and the best way to do that is kneeling.10.    I recognize my own total dependence on God for everything in my life and ministry. Prayer is the way I express that dependence and access His provision.So really, 10 days is hardly enough.  I must, as Paul instructs, pray without ceasing!c Judy Douglass