21 Days of Prayer ChallengeSample

Day 2: Why should I pray?

From Pastor Zach Zehnder

We exist to be in a relationship with God. Jesus's life, death, and resurrection make this relationship possible. The greatest followers of Jesus are those in great relationship with Him. And any great relationship starts with great communication. Prayer, ultimately, is how we communicate with God.

Okay, that's a lot to digest. So let's back up a bit.

GPS is an incredible invention. I don't understand how it all works, but I often utilize it to guide me to where I want to go. For example, I once read a story about a woman in Belgium who got into her car to pick up a friend at the train station. She activated her GPS to give her directions. The trip should have only taken about 90 minutes, but somehow, the GPS took her in the wrong direction, and sadly, she just blindly followed where the GPS led her. So rather than ending at the train station, she ended up more than 900 miles away from where she was supposed to be!

This silly little example shows me that even when we follow the best of the world's directions, it can still take us to the wrong destination.

I believe the world has always been broken and messy, but you could argue that the world has never been as confusing as it is right now.

My wife asked me to pick up some milk from the grocery store the other day. But, when I got to the grocery store, I wasn't sure what type of milk she wanted me to grab. Have you noticed how many types there are these days? Did she want me to buy 1%, 2%, Fat-Free, Whole, or how about Soy, Almond, Coconut, Organic, etc.? I didn't know, and she wasn't answering my text at the moment, so I was intrigued by a brand called "8th Continent" and threw it in the cart.

Many of us deal with much more significant issues than what milk to bring home. We live in a world where racial oppression, gender confusion, political tension, and pandemic opinions are real issues. As parents, we are the first generation trying to navigate how to raise kids in a social media, smartphone-crazed world. It's a confusing world we live in. But in the middle of it, we can cut through all of the confusion and chaos and communicate with the God who created us. Prayer gives us direction in a confusing world. And God's guidance will never steer any of us in the wrong direction.

Why pray? Because you need God's direction.

Day 2 Challenge: What are three confusing areas in your life right now? List them out and pray about each one of them today, asking for God's guidance and wisdom.

Prayer Prompt: For your national, state, and city leaders