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More About Prayerby Gene PooreJesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock,and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he thatseeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (MAT 7:7).Thus, prayer is asking and seeking. Prayer is knocking on the mercies andriches of God according to the words of our Lord. However, if we read suchpromises without understanding other teachings of Christ, or without the knowledgeof to whom Jesus spoke, we might think “everyone” referred to in scriptureincludes everyone who believes in God. Such a thought falsifies truth, becauseeven sinners believe in God.According to God’s Word, “We know that God heareth not sinners: but if anyman be a worshipper of God, and doeth [God’s] will, him [God] heareth.” (JOH9:31). Thus, our opening scripture tells us Jesus taught His disciples--followerswho believed on Him--the definition of prayer in simple format.However, we define prayer in many ways. One meaning of prayer is bowing thesoul and knees before God, like the Apostle Paul confessed: “For this cause I bowmy knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . .” (EPH 3:14).The physical or mental bowing of knees before the Almighty reflects an actof humility, humbleness, and submission to the creator of all that exists. When welift our soul as we look up seeking God’s face and favor, we reflect ouracceptance of our inner need for God. Accepting God begins the act of prayer.Prayer becomes holy action. Prayer becomes conversation with God, making ourindividual requests known to God. Jesus stated in Luke 18:1, “Men ought always topray, and not to faint. . . .” So, why did our Lord stress such action unlessprayer holds intrinsic value?When we come to God, we must understand, “He that cometh to God must believethat [God] is.” (HEB 11:6). We cannot pray to someone who does not exist--andexpect answers. Thus, when we arrive at an age when we realize a Higher Powercontrols our life that Higher Power tells us to “repent and seek his face.”Therefore, we repent and seek God’s face through prayer knowing Godrecognizes any paraphrased version of the sinner’s prayer. If we have never prayedthe equivalent of “God be merciful to me a sinner. . . .” (LUK 18:13), all wordsaimed heavenward before this plea meander through space.Prayer is a simple action. Even a child can pray--and we parents shouldteach our children to pray--because God always hears children. An uncomplicatedprayer many children offer to God at bedtime is “Now I lay me down to sleep; Ipray the Lord my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord mysoul to take.”Because prayer remains simple, prayer is something we ought to do nonstop.Remember, Jesus said, “That men ought always to pray, and not to faint. . . .”Thus, prayer is not a sissified action. And the word, “ought,” means prayer issomething we should do with as much vigor and enthusiasm as we “ought” to work and“ought” to eat. And “always?” Every chance we get, at every opportunity, we shouldkeep Praying. We should pray in the shower, in the car, in the field, at work, atplay. In short, wherever we stand, sit, recline, or knit our brow becomes asuitable opportunity for prayer.Constant prayer exercises our spirit and makes us grow rich in faith andgrace. Thus, as we grow rich in faith and grace, we will not faint--nor be pulledapart by worldly troubles that enter our life. Our minds will linger on spiritualmatters and not on materialistic possessions or wants. We will see our life andbody as more than food and clothing. Prayer becomes a righteous means to “[lay] upfor [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, andwhere thieves do not break through nor steal: for where [our] treasure is, therewill [our] heart be also.” (MAT 6:20).Thus, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and [God’s] righteousness. . . .”
 
(MAT 6:33). When we bring God into our life, we “Trust in the Lord . . . ,” we“Delight [ourselves] in the Lord . . . ,” we “Rest in the Lord . . . ,” and we“Wait on the Lord. . . .” Then, thanks be to God, “The Lord shall help [us], anddeliver [us]: [the Lord] shall deliver [us] from the wicked, and save [us],because [we] trust in [the Lord].”Because we have belief in, faith in, and trust in God and in God’s promiseto answer our petitions, we accept God’s Son Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.Then, when we begin our spiritual walk with Christ, we sense God’s presence whenwe pray. Of course, being omnipresent, God surrounds us and God’s Holy Spiritguides us in our prayers.When we pray fervently, God’s presence becomes revealed within our heartsand life. We sense God’s presence as real, because our heart and soul overflowwith “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding. . . .” (PHI 4:7). ThePeace of God in our soul enables us to hurdle each difficulty that Satan tumblesinto our path.What happens when we pray? According to scripture, God’s power fills ourlife when we “Submit [ourselves] therefore to God. . . .” Because if we “Resistthe devil . . . [Satan] will flee from [us].” And if we “Draw nigh to God . . .[God] will draw nigh to [us].” (JAM 4:7-8).Thus, when we pray, not only do God’s presence and power become obviouswithin our spiritual walk, God’s Will for our life becomes clear. When we pray,our spirit harmonizes with God’s guiding Holy Spirit. Through fervent prayer, wesense spiritual truths which impress on us that God’s presence and power enrichour life.What happens when we pray? Not only does God’s presence become real, God’sPower felt, and God’s Will for our life clearer, God’s blessings for ourindividual walk becomes more available. We also receive prayer power to defuseevil, heal personal sickness, and cure illness that surround us. Why else wouldscripture command: “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. . . .” “Is any sickamong you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him.. . .” “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick . . . And if he have committedsins, they shall be forgiven him.” “Confess your faults one to another, and prayone for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of arighteous man availeth much.” (JAM 5:13-16).What happens when we pray? To answer that question, we need to read fromGenesis to Revelation. But, in summary, prayers mend nations, heal the sick, bringheartfelt revival to hearts and communities, and direct souls toward salvationthrough the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because some soul always needs our prayers,we should take a moment, this moment, and pray for that soul. Pray that God willbless that person’s life with forgiveness and understanding. Such prayer remainsour privileged, Christian duty.When we experience the new birth, after we accept Jesus Christ into ourhearts as Savior and Lord, prayer becomes a new privilege but also a Christianduty. Clearly, greedy eyes read where Jesus said, “Hitherto have ye asked nothingin my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (JOH 16:24).And, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, howmuch more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that askhim?” (MAT 7:11).Jesus’ words never meant we should pray for only personal blessings promisedthroughout God’s Holy Word. Our prayers should seek to save the souls ofhumankind, because God is “Not willing that any should perish, but that all shouldcome to repentance.” (2PE 3:9). When we pray for others to repent, we perform ourChristian duty as priests of God. When we pray for our Christian brothers andsisters, we fulfill our debt to fellow-believers because we are to pray “alwayswith all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with allperseverance and supplication for all saints. . . .” (EPH 6:18).Although praying is easy, when we pray we need protection because “Wewrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
 
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness inhigh places.” (EPH 6:12). Thus, because we fight against spiritual, supernaturalevil forces when we pray for ourselves and others, we require protective armorfrom spiritual, supernatural Godly power. God provides that armor through prayer!When we pray, we “Put on the whole armor of God, that [we] may be able tostand against the wiles of the devil.” (EPH 6:11). Because evil forces bombard usdaily, discontentment robs us of the joys of the Lord. Yet, when we pray, we “Growin grace, and in knowledge of our Lord and [Savior] Jesus Christ.” (2PE 3:18).Grace and knowledge draw us closer to God, the Father. We then feel God’spresence; we feel God’s power; we feel God’s will for our life. Awareness to God,and of God, makes our service to God easy.When we pray, God’s blessings become available. Jesus said, “All things,whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (MAT 21:22). Andagain, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may beglorified in the son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (JOH14:13).Yet, if we do not know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, knowing how topray, knowing why we pray will do little good if we remain unrecognized by the onewho listens. The Lord will confess, “I know you not . . . depart from me, all yeworkers of iniquity.” (LUK 13:27).Clearly, reflected from attitudes and living testimonials, too many churchattendees believe that because they press a pew during services that God overlookstheir sins and answers their prayers. Yet, according to scripture, God neverdismisses sin. If a sinful person prays, the prayer is fruitless. If a sinfulheart’s plea finds an answer, the answer came because sinless hearts prayed forthat answer. God answered the prayer from the forgiven.Much about prayer bears repeating. Even when we know what prayer is, why weshould pray, how to pray, and what happens when we pray, Satan-led interferenceshammer on our spiritual hideaway to distract us from communicating with God.Satan’s interferences are hindrance to answered prayer. Although three suchhindrances are fatigue, haste, and inner restlessness, we overcome such hindranceswhen we allow God’s Holy Word to lead us.God’s Word says, “[God] giveth power to the faint; and to them that have nomight [God] increaseth strength. . . . They shall run, and not be weary; and theyshall walk, and not faint.” (ISA 40:29-31). Thus, whenever we feel too weary topray becomes the exact time to pray. Pray to God for strength and power, becausewe “Can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth . . . [us].” (PHI 4:13).Then, what about haste in prayer? Are we guilty at times of flippantlytossing words toward heaven to complete our Christian duty? Is our heart reachingout to God in behalf of another? Have our mental or physical knees become scabbedfrom lengthy pleading to God to have mercy on a person we know needs freedom fromsome burden? Ecclesiastes 8:3 tells us, “Be not hasty to go out of [God’s] sight.. . .” Clearly, we should pray without ceasing like scripture commands.Next, what about that inner restlessness when problems arise within our workarea, or at home when a family member strums our last nerve? Scripture suggests wecheck every nook and cranny in our family for hindrances to answered prayer. Wemust pray with a repentant heart for God to show us every weak, restive, andrestless area that needs attention. God will hear and answer that prayer.Hindrance to prayer is one of Satan’s neutralizing weapons. Satan knowsGod’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. Satan uses every “jot and tittle” againstGod’s people. Satan knows God cannot and will not look on sin. So, through deviousand subtle ways, Satan creates hindrance between us, God, and answered prayer.Satan tries to block each prayer audience from God’s Throne Room using God’s Word.Imagine if God engraved the following warning above His Throne Roomentrance: “No petition will pass this portal if the one who prays taints the pleawith doubt, pride, unforgiveness, covetness, stinginess, etc. (Note: My Wordexplains each etc.)”Yes, God salted scripture with “etcs.” However, while on earth, Jesus
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