Our primary purpose for prayer should be seeking God — seeking to know him better; to have a closer, more personal relationship with him; to communicate with him as a child would with his/her father; and bringing our needs and our desires before him.

David often cried out to God in anguish and sorrow, coming to him and laying his burdens at God's feet.

¹"How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? ²How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? ³Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; ⁴Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. ⁵But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. ⁶I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
—Psalm 13

Even Jesus cried out to God in need of being in His presence as he hung dying on the cross:

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
—Matthew 27:46

And Jesus often sought the presence of God:

¹"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ⁴I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. ⁵And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
—John 17:1-5

³⁹"And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴³And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
—Luke 22:39-44

We are promised that if we seek God, we will find Him:

"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul."
—Deuteronomy 4:29

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."
—I Chronicles 28:9

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
—Hebrews 11:6

⁷"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
—Matthew 7:7-8

Are you seeking God with all your heart? Are you wanting to have a close personal relationship with him? If you seek Him, you will find him. All you have to do is communicate with him. Talk to him. Seek His presence.

Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc. For reprint information call 630-260-6200. All Scripture is taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain.