Question: A lot of my friends are religious and they talk about praying and I just want your opinion why should people pray, why is prayer important, why do people pray and why is it important to pray. Inquiring Mind

Answer: Dear Inquiring Mind, 

Thank you; that’s a really good question. Whether you consider yourself religious or spiritual, I think most people believe there is some type of intelligent design to the world that we live in – meaning that there is a higher power or higher being that made all of what we are and what is around us to come into existence.

For me, personally, praying is central to my faith. I do believe that God answers prayers. I honor God in my prayers and recognize that God made me. I recognize that everything I have received in this world is a gift from God.

  Many Christians celebrate this coming Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was all about serving the marginalized, caring for others, loving your neighbor. When we pray, we should pray for others and in doing so we model Jesus as love.

Love is a central theme of just about every major religion in the world and prayer is an act of love. I pray for my neighbor every day. Who is my neighbor? My neighbor is everyone who I encounter in the world and everyone who is in the world – those who are suffering, those who are hungry, those who are in need.

I pray that God checks on them and loves them and, most importantly, I pray that God will help me be the best person that I can be and that I can help my community and live my purpose for being in this world.

I believe that prayer helps to center us and helps us to focus on the true purpose – for us to live in this world and to learn how to love one another and to love the God that made us.

Rev Guy Leemhuis, Vicar
St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church

Answer: When asked the question “Why do we pray?” I realize that truly understanding prayer is above my pay grade. Throughout history people have struggled with that same question. So I cannot answer for anyone but myself. Therefore I will try to share my experience and how I have been informed by prayer.

I have heard a variety of thoughts about prayer from over 50 years in my time with many forms of spirituality – the primary one being Christianity. I have heard “God never changes, so why bother?” “Prayer is necessary to get into heaven” and “It’s a way to bargain with God.” None of these things ring true to me.

For me prayer is life changing, but not in a way to manipulate God but in a process of being in relationship with my Higher Power. Communication goes both ways. I learn to listen to God as I believe God is listening to me. I may not get what I am asking for but I am getting someone who is accompanying me on a journey. 

And I have found that the more honest I am with God the better our relationship. Since God is already aware of me, and all I am about, I find it refreshing that I can talk with God about anything. This includes being in gratitude with God but also sharing my anger and my hopes for the future.

I know that God is present with me throughout all things but I also know that God has never forced God’s will on me. 

I think I pray not so much to change God as to change myself …

The Rev Dina Fulgoni, Deacon 
St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church