PRAYER There is no replacement for spending time with the Lord and our spiritual growth depends on it. There is no quick fix that can replace spending time in His presence. As it is with any relationship, to establish and strengthen that relationship, spending time together is important. The same is true for our relationship with the Lord. What has the power to change our lives: The Word of God; the Spirit of God; and our relationship with God. Any relationship takes time to develop but it needs to be made a priority. That may mean that certain things need to change or be eradicated from our lives, whether it be watching TV, or sports, or whatever takes up our time. There is no religious condemnation – with free will comes the power of choice. Jesus is our ultimate role model for prayer. By observing His personal prayer life, we can learn important principles on how to have an intimate time of connection with the Father. a) Jesus told us not to pray like the hypocrites and those who don’t know God. “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:5,7,8) b) Jesus told us to pray to the Father, not to the mother, saints or angels. We are to pray through Jesus because He is the only way to the Father. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:6) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6) c) Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God’s will to be done, provision, forgiveness, victory over temptation, and protection from the devil’s schemes. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13) God talks to us in many ways but primarily through His Word, the Bible. We talk to God through prayer. We learn to listen to the sound of God’s voice in our lives when we read His Word. He listens to us when we pray. We respond to His Word with action. He responds to our prayers with action. As we read and obey the Word, and as we pray and trust God with our lives, let us not forget that God really answers prayers. The more specific the prayer, the more specific the answers will be. The secret is to pray according to His will. We know His will, by knowing His Word. Therefore, as we pray according to His Word, we know He will answer.