I. The Necessity of Prayer.
Why do we pray? If God is sovereign, and does as He pleases, then what need is there to pray and ask Him to accomplish His desired will? If God is omnipotent, what need is there to pray? I say, there is an absolute need for every saint to maintain a life of disciplined and devoted prayer. But why? God has no need of our prayers to accomplish His will, and yet He asks for them, yes demands them all the same. His will is not in any need of help from us, but our wills are in desperate need of help from Him, and that is why we must pray. Acts 17:25 says, “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”
We cannot put into God’s hands anymore than is already His by right. He is clothed in infinite power, majesty, and sovereignty and nothing can be added to Him. We do not add to God’s glory by our prayers, nor can we change His eternal decrees.
No, we pray because it is a necessity for us, an honor for us, and it shows the mark of grace upon our hearts when we pray in faith. We do not pray because God needs it, but because we do. As Luther once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”
And truly prayer is the very breath of the soul by which we are given spiritual life, and nourishment. The gracious soul is in need of the Holy Scriptures as much as the human body is in need of food, and likewise we are in need of prayer as much as in drinking water. Psalm 42:1-2 says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?”
The gracious soul which has been filled with love and affection for God upon His Redeeming them from sin and death thirsts for God, and desires to come before Him earnestly. A person who does not desire to pray has no right to be called a Christian.
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” A living soul must derive its source of light and life from the Living God. And we have this great privilege granted to us by the living God, that we may appear before Him, offer Him our requests, plead for grace, and trust in His divine power to do according to His will in all things. Therefore in this discourse, I hope to show why we ought to pray (The need), how we ought to pray (The manner), how often we ought to pray (The observance), who we are praying to (The theology), what we are praying for (The matter), and the spiritual benefits of our prayer (The fruit).

1. God is the living God.
Firstly, we ought to pray to God because He is the true God, the living God, and the only God. God Himself said, “Iam the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex. 20:2-3) We are commanded by the living God to have no other gods but Him. We are not to pray to other gods, nor to saints, to angels, or to images like the papists do. God is invisible, and He is able to be reached from wherever we are. “Pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” [Matt. 6:6] Our hope in prayer comes from the living God. We have a living hope in prayer because we pray to a living God. It is not mere ritual, or carnal motions, but a true and real Communion we have through Christ the Son. Jesus said, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:26) “You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.” (John 17:2) As the Father has authority to create, command, and grant life, so He has given that authority to the Son, and we have this hope in prayer because of the everlasting fountain of Life that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. As that fountain can never be dried up, we will always have both sound reason, and a living obligation to draw near to God in prayer. We do not pray to a dead idol, a false god, or an imagination of the mind, but to God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Other religions may have forms of prayers, but they are dead speeches, ineffectual whispers, and they stink like refuse before the face of the living God. Our prayers are heard and effectual. We not only pray to a living God, but our prayers are heard by Him because He is our God. We are His beloved and He is ours.  He is the true God, and He is our Father by right of adoption. “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” (_­Rom. 8:15, 9:26) We have the indescribable benefit, and blessing of approaching this Wonderful, and Mighty God in prayer to present to Him our troubles, sorrows, and cares, ‘knowing He cares for us.’ [1 Pet. 5:7] We have this pleasure, to come before a Holy God, and not be cast away, for the sake of Christ our Mediator. “Who was manifested in these last times for you.” [1 Pet. 1:20] Do not forget to lay hold on this promise, beloved, that God is our God and will be our living guide even unto death. Though we like all other men have sinned, and deserve to be consumed by the fire of His Holiness, we are given instead the privilege of possessing Him, worshiping Him, and coming before Him in prayer, “who once had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” [1 Pet. 2:10]
Deuteronomy 4:7 says, “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?” We are that nation. We are that holy people who have God so near to us, for “now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13) And now being brought near, and drawn close to the Father through Christ the Son we come to God with living hope, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 2:4-5)
Therefore do not be discouraged to pray, brethren beloved of God. We are the sons of the living God, and what better way to exercise our sonship than to pray to our Father who is in heaven? We have a duty to pray to God because He is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts, and with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning. He is ever living as our intercessor, and ever living to be approached in prayer, in all circumstances and at all times. He who never sleeps cannot be awakened or startled by our coming to Him when we are in need. He is ever waiting for us to call upon Him. “For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found” (Ps. 32:6)
Matthew Henry says, “It is taken for granted that all the disciples of Christ pray. As soon as ever Paul was converted, behold he prayeth. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray.”
Therefore as God is ever alive, let us be quickened in spirit, and let our prayers come to life in both constancy and fervency.

2. God is our Creator.
Second, we have reason to pray to God because He is our Creator. He formed the worlds out of nothing, and He has given us our life, both in our bodies and in our spirit.
All of our action proceeds from this necessary antecedent, that we are alive. And all of our spiritual fruit proceeds from this, that we were made spiritually alive by the breath of God’s spirit.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Gen. 2:7)
We pray to Him because we know Him to be our Creator. We do not worship a lie, but the Maker of all things. John Trapp said, “Our service is not rash but reasonable, Romans 12:1, such as whereof we can render a reason. God hates a blind sacrifice, the prayer of fools, a Samaritan’s service, when men worship they know not what nor why, John 4:22.” It is reasonable for a man to be filled with worship for His creator, just as it is only right that a pot should serve the potter’s purpose, and be shaped, and filled with what he desires to fill it with. If it cannot fulfill its purpose, it is a vessel of dishonor, and worthy to be broken and shattered to pieces. Isaiah 29:16 says, “Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?” How foolish is the man that does not respect His maker! How slow of heart and blind is he who does not offer prayer and praise to Him that fashioned him with such dignity, and carefulness! But the wise and holy know God to be their Creator, and they praise Him with understanding, and willingly go to Him in prayer. “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
We are a vessel made, fashioned, and formed to be filled with prayer, and praise, therefore let us do what is right and reasonable and pour ourselves out to Him, knowing that He is the Almighty, and we are but dust.
Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
We ought to give God the glory that is due to Him for His wonderful act of creation. He has made all things beautiful, and very good, and though we have very much corrupted the course of nature by our sin, and transgression, yet God remains a good Creator, who has the power and authority to grant us mercy and life. How thankless and brutish we are when we fail to thank God for the life He has so graciously bestowed upon us! Even in our most difficult trials, and agonizing straights we still have good reason to thank God. “He made all things very good.”  It is only the wicked who live their lives in rebellion and unthankfulness, refusing to glorify God as Creator.
Rom. 1:25 says, “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
Oh, see the beauty of creation, and consider the marvelous works of God! He has painted the skies with diverse colors and displayed His matchless wisdom by the glory of the Sun illuminating the majesty of the heavens. He has made each day to give Him glory. ‘From the rising of the Sun to its going down, His name is to be praised.’
The Sun, moon and stars are all in subjection to Him and obey all His commands. The sun rises by His command, and sets according to His word. “Upholding all things by the word of His power.” [Heb. 1:3] He has clothed the grass of the field, and appointed to them their times and seasons. He has put the seed of life in them that they might flourish and grow. Moreover He has displayed the beauty of His wisdom in the blooming of the flower, and the blossoming of the rose. What tender love He has displayed in giving life to all creatures, and taking care of the smallest of His creations.
Shall we not glorify Him for all this? Does He not have the right to our prayers by virtue of His creation? He is the potter, and we are the vessel, therefore we ought to recognize that He demands our prayers because it is right for us to pray to Him. He only desires that which is good, and we have good reason to humble ourselves before our Creator and pray to Him.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are, and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
It is right for us to pray to Him because He is worthy of it. The heathen may decry worship, and say, ‘It is vain!’ But we know God, and know that He is worthy of all our praise, and adoration. The Lord says in Isaiah 45:19, “I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.”  It is not so much that we do it out of slavish fear or ignorant homage, but because we know Him worthy of it, we say, “Woe to us if we do not worship Him.” A humble Christian will lament that He does not worship God as he ought to, knowing God to be worthy of more than our best effort.

3. God is our Ruler.
“Offer to God thanksgiving,
And pay your vows to the Most High.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:14-15)
“For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; He will save us.” (Isaiah 33:22)
We must pray to God, yes are even impressed with this solemn duty, and sternly commanded to pray because God is our Ruler. He is our King, and therefore all of our duties, services, tasks, work; yea all of the business of our religion comes from His command.
We pray because He is our King and commands us to. We are under His divine authority, and willingly so. It is both a duty and delight to pray to our Ruler, for He is a gracious Ruler and has delivered us from the bondage that kept us from prayer and Communion. All of the requirements for prayer flow from His command.
How are we saved? It is because He ‘commanded the light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.’ [2 Cor. 4:6] How do we know that our prayers are accepted except that we live according to His commandments and walk as Christ the Son of the Blessed walked? “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
How do we keep those commands except that God as King and Lawgiver enables us by His Spirit? Thomas Watson said, “The Lord not only fits work for us—but fits us for our work; with his command he gives enablement.”
There is not only a law given by Christ, “Pray without ceasing.” but grace given to do it.
God commands His people, and gives them the ability to obey. He commands us to pray, and also gives us His Spirit to draw us to prayer, to delight in prayer and to persevere in prayer. Therefore because God is our Ruler, we ought to be the more persuaded and compelled to go to Him in prayer and ask Him for grace and enablement. He is the Captain of our salvation, and has drawn us to obedience by cords of love, and shall we not be drawn to prayer, to converse with this mighty Captain who is most worthy of all our prayers and adoration? By His word the seas move, the thunders utter their voice, the sky changes color, the Sun rises, and sets, the moon shines, the flowers bloom, the earth is held into place, the wicked are cast into hell, and the righteous fall down and worship Him in prayer. It is all done by the authority of His word, and the power of His voice. “Upholding all things by the word of His power...”
[Heb. 1:3] He is the King of all the earth. [Psa. 47:7] Therefore His people should give Him the honor that is due a King, and offer Him all our petitions and desires, knowing that He has all power and authority to give it if it is His will to do so.
Malachi 1:14 says, “For I am a great King,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.”
It is a great dishonor to God when His people do not desire to be ruled by Him.
He will have all of our obedience, all of our heart, all of our worship, and all of our prayers. He commands us to pray, and if we do not, He is offended, and grieved.
“Pray without ceasing. Do not quench the Spirit.” There is reason why these two are so closely tied together. God gives us His Spirit to encourage us to pray, to teach us to pray, and to guide us in prayer, and it is a dishonor to Him, yes it grieves Him when we quench the Spirit and forget to pray. God both commands, and enables. He does not command His people without giving them strength to do so. Therefore He takes great offense when His laws, and rules are disregarded, and His people leave off this ever-pressing duty of prayer.

4. God is our Redeemer.
“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” (Isa. 43:1)
Now, O people of God, you are not only created to give God glory, and commanded to pray, but you are redeemed to do so. When sin entered the world we became completely unable to glorify God, trapped in our own apostasy and wickedness. We were blind, wandering in a land of darkness, having neither the light of knowledge, neither spiritual life. We were headed to the pit of hell, and would have walked there willingly.
But now, God has redeemed us from this corruption by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has set us free from our misery and delusions and put us on a straight path. He created mankind for His own glory, and we rebelled. Now, He has redeemed us from sin, and delivered us from our own self-will. He deserves our prayers by His right as Creator, so how much more by His right as our Redeemer? He who has shone the light of His favor upon our hearts and delivered us from wrath, how shall we not pray to Him, and offer Him our requests? ‘He offered up His only Son to redeem us, so how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’ [Rom. 8:32] If you will not pray to Him because He formed you from dust and gave you life then pray to Him because He became dust for your sake, and became your life. “Your life is hidden with Christ in God.” [Col. 3:3]
There are few greater needs for the gracious soul to remember that God is our Redeemer, “Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.” [Ps. 78:35] It brings us to honor and worship when we remember in faith what great things Christ has done for us.
And what a great dishonor we show, what astute ingratitude, and what profound disingenuousness is it when we forget God our Redeemer, and do not call upon His name in time of trouble, or give Him the glory for times of prosperity?
“Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel.
They did not remember His power:
The day when He redeemed them from the enemy.” (Ps. 78:41-42)
Matthew Henry said, “Call a man ungrateful, and you can call him no worse.”
What selfish ingratitude we show when we do not pray to God? Has He not delivered us from death and hell, and given us freedom from sin, and moreover promised us an eternal inheritance? And shall we not thank Him for this? Shall this redemption not stir in us holy affection, and sincere devotion that we might fall before Him in humble prayer? Therefore we see that He holds us by both of His arms of power, and we ought to pray to Him as both our Creator, and Redeemer. What great lengths Christ went to, what afflictions and agony was put upon Him, and what great sufferings He was tormented with to procure this blessing and privilege! He poured out His blood for us that we might pour our hearts out to Him in prayer, and therefore let us come before our Redeemer with sincere gratitude and affection, praising Him and blessing Him for what He has done for His people.

5. God is our Benefactor.
Even more than this, God is our benefactor, and all the riches of grace must be bestowed upon us by Him. Did we have power to create ourselves? Did we deliver ourselves from death? By no means! What vanity and foolishness is it then to suppose that we will be given grace unless it is according to His giving it? And how shall He give it to us except by prayer? “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (Jam. 1:17)  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” (Matt.7:7-8)
Seeing that we are cast upon the mercy of God for spiritual life and health, how much the more should we come to Him, and ask Him for grace, and faith? It is not of our own will that we are enlivened to do His will, therefore we must pray for it, and ask for it to be given to us. “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jer. 10:23) We have no power of our own to mortify sin, but we must ask for God to subdue our lusts, and kill it by virtue of the cross. We ought to plead with God in prayer to put down our rebellious heart by whatever means necessary, and to raise our hearts to glorify Him. Jesus says in John 15:4-5, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” We are but a dead branch, or a dead leaf unless we seek strength from Christ. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [Phil. 4:13]
We can do nothing of ourselves. We must live in complete dependence upon God for all our spiritual needs knowing that He has both the power and desire to give to us what we need. Prayer ought to increase our dependence upon Him. Not that we are ever more or less dependent on Him for grace, but as we grow in grace, we realize the more how much we are dependent on Him, and therein we glorify Him. We are not only completely dependent on Him for grace, but also the very requests we make for grace come from His Spirit, because without His Spirit, prayer is empty and worthless.
1 Chron. 29:14 says, “All things come from you, and of your own we have given you.” He is not glorified by the works of men (that is of flesh), but He receives our prayers by virtue of Christ’s mediation, and the supply of the Spirit. He hears favorably no man outside of Christ. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” [Heb. 11:6]
Therefore we pray for grace, because God gives us the eyes of faith to see that we need it.
How thankful we ought to be to Him for all His works! For creating us out of dust, breathing into us the breath of life, delivering us from our sinful ignorance, and granting us the will to seek Him!
We should seriously consider and meditate on how much we receive from God, and see what great need we have of prayer.
Let us with one heart and voice lift up our souls on high, and offer to God thanksgiving and praise, that is the fruit of our lips.