Why And How to Pray

The question is often, if God knows what we need, why should we pray? Let's look at what the bible has to say about that.
I. First, it shows our dependency on Jesus, He said in God's word:
John 15:5 (NKJV)  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. That's pretty plain. We are not sufficient within ourselves. We are not independent of Jesus Christ. All of us have needs that no person can supply.

II. Second, it is the way to receive from God.
He tells us in His word: Luke 11:9-10 (NKJV) ⁹ "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
III. How are we to pray effectively? 

A. We must have faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Mark 11:22-24 (NKJV) ²² So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. We must speak to the problem with which we are dealing just as JESUS spoke to the fig tree. 

Mark 11:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰ Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. ²¹ And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."
Then Jesus says we must not doubt in our hearts, but we must believe the things we say will be done. If we do we will have whatever we say. We can't allow ourselves to speak negatively once we pray. If we do, we will get what we speak! So speak positive answers to our prayers without doubting.  

B. We must forgive all who have hurt us or spoken evil of us. If we have unforgiveness in our hearts, our prayers will not be heard nor will God forgive us. Look at the following scriptures.

Mark 11:25-26 (NKJV)
²⁵ "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
God can't be much plainer than that!

C. Then last of all, we are to pray without anxiety in our minds and hearts.

 Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) 

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Anxiety on our part means we really don't trust God to be able to handle our situation or circumstance. 

We are to pray with thanksgiving to God in our hearts. We are to be thankful for who God is and what He has done and what He is going to do. Be thankful you can trust Him for the answer.

When we pray this way, God makes us a promise. Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) 

⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. God's peace will keep, [that word means guard] our heart and mind. Trusting God with our problems and worries gives us a peace of mind that can not be understood with the human mind because it comes from God Himself. Then that scripture says God will guard our heart and mind from anxiety. We can't be anxious when we truly take our problems to God, trust Him for the answer and then leave them there with God. 

God invites us to cast all  our cares on Him because He cares for us. 

Peter 5:7 (NKJV) ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 

What have you got to lose except your anxieties, worries, and doubts? You can not pray with faith in God unless you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Has there been a time that you stopped and admitted your sins against God and asked Jesus to forgive you? If not, now is the time in the privacy of your own home or wherever you are. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life to take charge of you. If you are sincere, He will forgive you instantly and forever your sins will be washed away never to be brought up again. Then you can pray for anything your heart desires that is in tune with God's will for your life. That is the truth, and it is the whole truth in Jesus, name. You will never be the same again.