Here’s my new post at dotMagis!

If the answer to our prayers will sometimes be “no,” why do we pray in the first place? I have no doubt that our lists of personal reasons are varied and numerous:

• We believe in God.
• We seek to deepen that relationship with God.
• We thank and praise God for the gifts in our life.
• We seek comfort in our suffering.
• We ask for prayers in our need.
• We pray for others.
• We seek to see what gets in the way of our relationship with God.
• We discern God’s will for us.

I wonder, though, why God wants us to pray. While I am sure many others could articulate this better than I, my own thoughts are:

• God deeply desires a relationship with us.
• God wants all of our lives, so much so, that our way of being with God affects all of our doing. Prayer transforms us interiorly so our outward lives reflect God.
• God wants us to acknowledge our dependence on God. In doing so, we show our trust in God and we acknowledge our great creator, who has the power to do anything.

What are your thoughts? Why do we pray? Why does God want us to pray?

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.