Why Pray?

Why do we pray? 

I am in the midst of studying for my sermon this Sunday.  My text for Sunday is James 5:13-20.  This passage is about prayer.  As I have been studying this passage, the opening question struck me.  Why do we pray?  Prayer is almost universal.  I have not yet met a person who responds negatively to prayer.  In the last few weeks, I have started asking my servers at restaurants if there is anything that I can pray for them about when I pray before my meal.  So far, I have not had anyone who responded negatively.  Some have given shallow answers, some have expressed how often they pray, but none so far has told me not to pray for them.  Most people are open to prayer and when push comes to shove desire prayer.  People who don't attend church or don't claim belief in God will still seek prayer when they or a member of their family becomes sick.  Something deep inside of us resonates with prayer.  We have a need to cry out to something or someone greater than ourselves when tragedy strikes.  So, why do we pray?  We pray because we need to pray.  We need something or someone to be out there to intervene in our lives.  But ultimately, we pray because God is and God cares.  We pray because God hears our prayers.  We pray because God can change our reality, though he doesn't always.  We pray because it makes a difference.  Not every prayer is answered in the ways that we want.  But every time that I have prayed fervently for something, I have been changed.  My prayer may not be answered the way I want it to be, but my prayers have been effective. We pray because the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective!