Why I Need to Pray

In what vain attempts to remember God, I decided to commit to a daily prayer meeting. It was a meeting organized by the school chapter of the Christian Medical Fellowship. Everyday at 9 PM, with the exception of Thursdays when they have a large group meeting, several students would gather to sing praises and pray. It would last about 30 minutes and the rest would be free time of prayer. After having gone nearly half the semester, it quickly became a routine. I would sit down, close my eyes and pray for about 5 minutes, but I would soon begin to dose off and wake up nearly 10 minutes later. 

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he say on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi [The LORD is my Banner]. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Exodus 17:8:16

Although passionately praying at first, Moses grew tired and soon began to falter. How long would a battle last exactly? Hours to days, I would say. Moses just might as well have dosed off. That, however, did not seem to matter anyways. As long as his hands were physically up, the Israelites were winning. The altar stood to say that the battle was won by God, and God alone. Maybe our sound mind, elaborate prayers do not matter as much to God. Maybe it is the constant act of worship, the longing for Him, the recognition of the desperate need for His help, the endless desire to carry on a conversation. 

Maybe this is why God compels me to get up early every morning, though not always quite successful. Maybe this is why God moves my feet to walk everyday. Maybe this is why God has given me a new life with new opportunities.