Jesus prayed.

Mark 6:46

... he went up on a mountainside to pray.

I really like this logic:

Jesus prayed.

We are molded into a character like his.

Therefore, we pray because Jesus prayed.

The verse gave me an impression that prayer has been the most significant routine in the life of Jesus. He went to serene places to spend time with the Father and even woke up early in the morning to have a quiet time. I wonder if you also noticed this --- before Jesus does something extraordinary, He prays. :)

You might ask why Jesus had to pray when He is thus far the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus, Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus humbled himself! He knew what it was like to be human because He became one of us. He knew that without the guidance of the Spirit, He could be tempted; without the Father's strength He might not be able to do the will of the Father. Jesus is the paragon of humility. He sought the Father's voice and was satisfied by His presence.

Above is the first (of my three primary reasons) and the most brilliant reason I could think of why I pray and put high regard in it: because Jesus prayed. If there is someone whose character is worth following, it is Jesus. I believe that for my life to be pleasing and honoring to God, it should be patterned to His standard which is seen perfectly in Jesus. In prayer, God is known. And Jesus models to me how to know more about God -- pray.

Second, I believe that prayer is more than a communication. It transcends the need to communicate. It is a fuel and a reflex in my relationship with God. This is not just an ordinary kind of communication. This is the kind with a commitment. This is the kind that does not need diplomacy but honesty. This is spoken by the heart -- a heart that is linked to His -- with transparency.

Third, prayer brings me into a right position before God. More than spending time with God, it is entering into His presence to commune with Him, humbling oneself before His holiness and fixing my eyes on His glory, not mine. It is when I choose to submit and listen to Him that I can only hear him clearly. And prayer changes me. It helps me see things in a perspective that is seen only through the eyes of God. Thus, prayer is a bridge to eternity.