Our Prayer Life

Both Jesus (Luke 18:1) and Paul (1 Tim. 2:1) emphasized the importance of prayer,
noting that people ought always to pray. Prayer includes asking and getting answers
from God. But it is more than just asking. When we pray, we should follow the model
prayer Jesus gave His disciples and address it to our heavenly Fatherbeginning with
adoration, including thanksgiving and confession of sins, making reconciliation with
others, praying for our needs and the needs of others, and concluding in Jesus' name
(John 14:14). Jesus pointed out that God heard the prayer of a humble publican rather
than that of a proud Pharisee (Luke 18:14). It is the basis of the successful Christian life,
and is so important that not praying is considered a sin (1 Sam. 12:23). God will answer
our prayer when we obey Him (1 John 3:22), confess sin (Ps. 66:18), abide in Christ
(John 15:7), ask according to the will of God (1 John 5:14), ask in faith (Mark 11:24),
have pure motives (James 4:3), and live peaceably with our fellowmen (1 Pet. 3:7).

One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and
never give up. (Luke 18:1) Jesus used this parable primarily to tell us what happens if
we stop prayingwe faint. There are prayers that require persistent, repeated praying
before the answer comes. The Old Testament tells us that Daniel prayed for twenty-one
days for an interpretation of a vision he had received. It was only later that he learned
that the delay was because of a spiritual battle of which he knew nothing about. There
are times when we do not feel like our prayer will be answered, but still, continue to pray
faithfully until the answer comes. Many times we do not receive what we ask from God
because we give up before He answers. Just keep on until the answer comes.

Nobodys an outsider when we pray. Its on the basis of His love, not ours. We have no
idea how profound His love for us really is. No matter who you are, no matter what you
need, try praying that prayer. And I pray that your heart erupts with an understanding
and revelation of His amazing love for you. Gods love is so extravagant and so

inexplicable that He loved us before we were us. He loved us before we existed. He

knew many of us would reject Him, hate Him, curse Him, rebel against Him. Yet He
chose to love us. God loves us because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) He loved us
first, He loves us best, and He will love us forever. You will never be able to count the
ways in your entire lifetime.
One of the most important things for us in these times is to maintain our prayer life.
Charles Spurgeon said, In all states of dilemma or of difficulty, prayer is an available
source. The ship of prayer may sail through all temptations, doubts and fears, straight
up to the throne of God; and though it may be outward bound with only griefs, and
groans, and sighs, it shall return freighted with a wealth of blessings! God is just as
much at work when things go wrong as when they go well. We wont always understand
His purpose, but we can always trust that He knows what He is doing because of His
love. One of the most important things for us in these times is to maintain our prayer life.

Prayer is not a series of magic words spoken to produce a result. God is not a vending
machine who dispenses what we select when we drop a prayer into the waiting slot.
There are many prayers we offer that shouldnt be answered because getting what we
ask would be far worse for us than not getting it. There are prayers that we offer that will
not be answered because they are not in line with Gods will and His Word. Yet when
our prayers are what they should bethe heartfelt cry of children to a loving parent,
they are heard. We do not pray presumptuously. We do not demand what we think we
deserve. Instead we ask, relying on the promises and grace of our Heavenly Father. We
serve a God who regularly deals with impossible situations. He is the Lord of
possibilities. He will hear; He will answer.

You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you
very seriously. When you enter his presence, you dont need to fear that you will be
ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no
one, it impresses Godand God listens. Intently. Carefully. Your words do not stop until
they reach the very throne of God. Your prayer on earth activates God's power in

heaven, and God's will is "done here on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10 NCV).Your
prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer,
and you dont need to. When you speak, Jesus hears. When He hears, the world is
changed. And all because someone prayed. Your voice matters in heaven. Its amazing!
Its incredible!

The basic qualification for answered prayer is, he who comes to God must believe that
He is, and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Next
is, God will not give you something which will cause you harm in the long run. He wont
spoil you by giving you everything you ask for, but yes, He will give you all that is good
and right. Why? Because He loves you and He wants all things to work together for
your good. (Romans 8:28) and Who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1Tim.6:17). Is
there anything better than these?

God has given us all things to enjoy. But he also wants us to be generous and willing to
share, to do good to others and to be rich in good works in accordance with our means.
God loves a cheerful giver! One of the surest paths of seeing God work in your life is to
become a cheerful giver. Paul says that God is able to make all grace abound to such a
person. So instead of being a getter, allow Gods Spirit to begin transforming you into a
giver. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7