The Door to Prayer Is Always Open

“Our failure to think of prayer as a privilege may be partly due to the fact that we can pray any time. The door to prayer is open so continuously that we fail to avail ourselves of an opportunity which is always there.”    -Harry Emerson Fosdick 

A person who reads the Bible but doesn't pray is a spiritual hermit (a recluse, or removed from interacting with people). If you read the Bible but don’t pray, you are not interacting with God. On the other hand, a person who prays but doesn't read the Bible is a chatter-box (one way conversation is so hard to sit through).

It's easy to be a spiritual hermit, or chatter-box. God attempts to offer words of love and instruction, of advice and warning, but we easily miss the whole experience and pay no attention. Other times some think they’re hearing voices and say, “What was that?”

Sadly, some even develop the mistaken attitude that prayer, and particularly persistent prayer, is the means by which we take from God the things which He does not really want us to have. However, quite the opposite is true. Prayer is: the divinely ordained channel through which God gives His children all the good things He designs for our benefit, and blessing. Think about this for a minute. God is far more willing to give than we are to ask. What an awesome concept!

He is more willing to answer prayer, than we are to meet the conditions under which He can answer prayer. Most of us are well aware that there are all kinds of prayer. One could say that there is a prayer to fit every particular situation, or condition. For example, there is public prayer, private prayer, individual prayer, and corporate prayer.

To this list, we can also add: long prayers, short prayers, standing prayers, sitting down prayers, laying on your face prayers, while you walk prayers, the prayer of faith, the prayer of petition, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of submission, and the prayer of repentance, and...well, you get the idea.

It's clear from Paul's writings (Ephesians 6:18) under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that prayer is vital for the believer. E.M. Bounds says: "Prayer is the great, universal force to advance God’s cause; Not to pray is a denial of God, a denial of his existence, a denial of his nature and a denial of his purposes toward mankind."

The Bible shows us that Jesus' own life was saturated with prayer. He went from place to prayer, from place to prayer, from place to prayer, and in between he cast out devils, healed the sick, and even raised the dead!

Through prayer we are given an overview concerning our brothers and sisters. We are able to see where they are weak, and through prayer we are able to intercede and fight for them until they regain their strength. We should pray for all saints everywhere that they would receive a revelation of all that God has provided for them through Christ.

Our relationship with God is the most valuable resource we have especially when everything else seems to be falling apart. With so much break-up and let-down running wild in our world, it's wonderful to have something solid as a rock to hold on to – our relationship with God. When the earthquakes of moral compromise, economic crisis, unhealthy living and unhealthy health, are staring us in the face, the “Government” of God never changes! He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Friends, to “keep on praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is to cultivate a constant dependence on God every moment. It's to be always aware of his presence, and conscious of my need of him to sustain and help me where I am right now.

Allow me to leave you with some things to consider regarding prayer:

• God wants you to experience his presence and love for you; to talk with you and share with you. This is realized through prayer and reading the Bible.
• God wants to channel his relationship with you to the world so they can be in relationship with him. God wants to use you as a conduit to lead others to communion.
• God wants to provide you with a connection point so deep and intimate, that you will be able to worship him in trusting confidence when all the odds say otherwise.

Always remember that Jesus is the source of eternal salvation to all who obey the gospel. For everyone who truly believes in his provision; he saved at the cross, and he saves forever and ever. Having given so much, will he not hear us pray?

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15; Mark 11:24; Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 3:22; Jeremiah 33:3; Luke 18:1; Isaiah 65:24

Prayer: Dear Father, please help me to find inner peace. Help me understand that no matter what may come my way, you are always with me. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Raeann