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.
"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, I have overcome him, and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me." —Psalm 13
Even Jesus cried out to God in need of being in His presence as he hung dying on the cross:
"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-thani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" —Matthew 27:46
And Jesus often sought the presence of God:
"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: 'Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they many know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.'" —John 17:1-5
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you will not fall into temptation.' He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." —Luke 22:39-44
We are promised that if we seek God, we will find Him:
"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." —Deuteronomy 4:29
" … acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." —I Chronicles 28:9
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." —Hebrews 11:6
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will 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.
(All scripture taken from the Quest Study Bible, Copyright 1994 by Zondervan Publishing House.)
