Yukon Cornelius said:
Can your provide scriptural evidence to support your claim the PRIMARY point of prayer is to grow closer to God?
I see this line of thinking alot lately. Typically prevailing in reformed theology. yet I rarely see it. accompanied with scriptures. I'm not saying you're wrong but I'm curious if you have scriptures to support your belief.
Oh man, judging by your question you're not going to like this answer. I go to an orthodox church and this is out of discussions with the priest. I didn't ask for citations when we discussed this.
I think a bigger question here is, what is the primary point
of this life? And the answer is to grow closer to God and work out your salvation. And prayer life is part of that. Its you communicating with God and reverencing God. Is there someone you're close to that you don't talk to? I would say no. So prayer life, along with partaking in anything related to church, is to grow closer to God and work out your salvation.
God knows your deepest desires and needs. God loves you. God is also just. God also has a different relationship with death than we do. Step one of praying good prayers is to spot/stop bad prayers. If the primary role of prayer isn't growing closer to God, what would it be? Its not an IT request line. Its not to 'bring God down' and make Him your servant like prayers to idols are for.