Nowadays, people think that prayer is only about one thing: asking god for something. People pray for better grades, more money, to win the lottery, and just about anything that their hearts desire. This is a common misconception as prayer is not just to ask god for something.

Let’s take a look at several legitimate reasons on why to pray.

Gain Forgiveness

People sin. It is a natural thing for us people to do bad things, even when we don’t want to.

Praying allows us to ask for forgiveness from whoever god we are praying to. As in most religions – Catholicism takes center stage on this one – their god is all forgiving. In Catholicism, god forgives those who are willing to own up to what they have done.

Moreover though, prayer allows god to give people the strength to forgive themselves. We tend to make ourselves feel bad or make ourselves feel guilty due to what we have done. However, go has already forgiven us. This allows us to slowly but surely get to the point where we can forgive ourselves.

Moreover, in witnessing god’s love, we can gain the power to forgive those who have done us wrong as well.

Opens Us Up to God

The next legitimate reason for praying is to open ourselves up to god. It may sound weird, but in doing so we allow for god to enter our lives.

How many times have we heard this saying? Many people don’t see the point of this one. Most people call bull.

However, there is something to this way of thinking.

Prayer allows us to center our existence to the god we believe in. We quiet whatever is going on internally or externally and just focus on god. We put ourselves in a sacred space that changes the way we think and act.

In doing so, we think of how god is and are reminded of how we should be living. Thus, we can let go of our selfishness this way. We can change our attitude from negative to positive. And we can have hope for whatever happens in our life.

Ultimately though, we are brought closer to god.

A Healthier Life

Did you know that prayer can lead to a healthier life? A recent scientific study discovered that if people pray regularly, then they lead longer lives. It also allows for people to be healthier.

The study showed that it doesn’t matter what people pray for, as long as they immerse themselves in the act.

It also allows for people to reduce the stress that they feel.

These are only a few legitimate reasons on why we should pray. The John R Rice team hopes that you start a regular praying habit and feel its benefits.