- Why You Pray
God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. – Psalm 47:8
Looking back over 2025, perhaps you view the world as a mess. If God is in control, as today’s verse indicates, why does conflict and division continue to arise or increase? Believers can be assured that God is bringing His plans to pass. Ultimately, Christ will return and take all His followers home with Him, the ones who have died and the ones living (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). However, in the meantime, is God having His way on Earth?
Some may wonder, if God does whatever He wants, why pray? In His sovereignty, He gave people a choice. Indeed, the Lord could force everyone to believe in Him, but that is not love. He loves all people, but they have to decide whether to love Him back or not. Part of any loving relationship is communication. Prayer is communication with God.
Believers pray for a multitude of reasons, as seen in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). To know who He is: He is Holy (verse 9). For His will to be done on earth (verse 10): if you want His will to be done in this nation, pray. For daily needs (verse 11). For forgiveness (verse 12). For His guidance to do those things that please Him (verse 13).
The Bible provides multiple promises concerning prayer. While He is ruler over the nations and sits on His holy throne, God’s people pray by faith in order to deepen their relationship with Him. If you have only one New Year’s resolution to make, let it be to increase your time in prayer. And, as you are praying, intercede on behalf of the nation’s governing officials.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 47:8
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: James 4:1-10
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
