As a child I was told that God lives inside of us and that I could pray to Him whenever I wanted to. I remember many times closing my eyes and trying to imagine who I was talking to and wondering if there was really anyone hearing my silent petitions. It was not until I decided to believe and accept Him as my Savior, that I knew beyond any doubt…He IS there and He hears every word!
Once I knew He was listening and how much He cared about me and my feelings, talking to Him was not a problem. I listened to the prayers of others at church and they always closed with: “In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.” I wondered, am I talking to Jesus, the Son, or God, the Father when I pray? I understood the trinity, “God in three Persons,” but, as a new Christian, it was a little confusing. I knew I should pray in Jesus’ name, but how exactly should I address Him? Some would start their prayers with, Lord, or Father and others seemed to pray directly to Jesus. Later, I understood that we voice our prayers to Jesus and He brings them to the Father.
Romans 8: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us…
Many times people don’t pray simply because they don’t know how, or don’t feel worthy. I would suggest you speak to Him as you would a best friend. He knows all there is to know about you anyway, so why not discuss with Him whatever is on your mind? Prayer is the first step in our relationship with Christ. In prayer, we ask for His forgiveness and open the door to our hearts while He opens to us the door to God’s love and helps us to solve the mysteries of this world.
Some feel that God doesn’t want to be bothered with their everyday problems so they choose not to waste His time, but the truth is, He wants us to include Him, to consider His opinions and ask His help in making decisions. He’s willing to sweat the small stuff in order to draw us closer to Him. Who better to help with a problem than the highest power in the universe? We’ll need to ask for His forgiveness many more times in our walk with Him and often while praying we’ll receive His personal reassurance that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Many times in the Bible we are encouraged to pray…as in James 5: 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Luke 18: 1 …men ought always to pray and not to lose heart.
1 Thessalonians 5: 17 Pray without ceasing.
In Luke 11, after Jesus had finished praying, one of His disciples asked that He teach them to pray as John the Baptist had taught his followers. He gave them what we now call ‘the Lord’s prayer.’ The rest of it can be found in Matthew 6: 9-13. Prayer was an important part of Jesus’ journey to the cross. He even prayed that the cup of death might pass from Him, but that God’s will, not His, be done. And so it was.
One of my favorite parts of the Bible is John, chapter 17. Jesus prays for his disciples and, as he states in verse 20, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” He was praying for us…and all the believers to come.
Prayer is the lifeline that keeps us connected to the one who gave us life. Let us not hesitate to use it.
Prayer Opens Doors
