April 1, 2020
“If my people…will…pray…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Prayer to me is talking to God anytime, all the time, any place.
Prayer is calling to God and God answering.
Prayer is expectancy.
Prayer is a privilege.
Prayer is worship.
Prayer is adoration.
Prayer is confession.
Prayer is thanksgiving.
Prayer is a direct line to God 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
We were created to love God.
We were created to know God.
We were created to live with God.
We were created to commune with God.
We were created to glorify God.
We were created to pray.
Simply, prayer is talking to God. Prayer is a conversation with God. I have always told my boys I have a direct access line to God. Lines of communication are open both ways. Through Jesus and according to Hebrews 4:16, we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Talk about an open door policy. He is the MOST. He is the most powerful and He says, “Come any time and all the time.
No one should ever be afraid to come and chat with God. God wants relationship. I promise, If God is big enough to handle me and all my “stuff,” He is more than big enough to to handle you. For instance, if you do not understand what is going on in the world in March 2020, ask him. I am not afraid to ask God anything. However, be prepared, you may not like the answer at the other end of the line nor the deafening silence waiting for Him to answer. When He gets quiet on the line, just give Him a: Heller?”… just remind Him you are there waiting for his answer.
Once, I was hurt to my core. I was mad. I was so angry. It was late at night and I went and sat by a nearby lake in my neighborhood. I cried to the Lord. It was more like screamed and I did not care what the neighbors thought. I ask God, “Why?’ I demanded that He listen and answer me. (Not the respectful way to talk to the Lord, but he graciously listened.) I had to hear from him. I required His presence. I needed a word of comfort. Guess what he told me? Guess what was my word from the Holy Spirit as I sat there broken to pieces. The last thing I wanted to hear, words from the mouth of Jesus to my ear. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and PRAY for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44. (I have discovered this is the very first verse where prayer is mentioned in the New Testament) I was not happy with my answer at all. He was telling me to love no matter what and to pray. Later, he did give me a comforting word, but I would have to look it up. I cannot recall it. Obviously, it was not what I needed to hear that night. I needed to hear love, pray, and forgive.
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “Pray without ceasing.” Why? I believe it is because God wants to be in our presence, always. He wants us to be present with Him. He wants relationship. If we do not talk to him, how can we say we are in a relationship with him. When you are in relationship with someone, you talk to them and you talk often. Right? Also, if we talk to Him all the time, we are focusing on Him and not our problem. In the prayer, in just coming to Him, we are telling Him, we believe you are bigger, more powerful and have the answers. Why talk to Him, if we do not believe he can help?
I enCOURAGE you to “pray without ceasing.” Pray all the time. Do not stop. When you are always in His presence, it is a lot easier to catch his vibe. It is a lot easier to hear what He is saying to you. Turn off the phone. Turn off the TV. Turn off the IPad. Turn off the computer. Turn off the noise of the world. Turn on God. Give Him a call. You will be amazed. Pray all the time and everywhere. “I will therefore that men pray EVERYWHERE, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Timothy 2:8 (KJV)
Daily, let your declaration be: “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalms 55:16-17 (KJV) 16
Complete in Him 