Have you ever imagined what the world would be if all who believe in God the creator, ceases praying, and suddenly no prayers assending to heaven ? What would be the purpose of God's mercy and delay to destroy the world if there were no beings talking to Him?

This world and all its inhabitants are still in existence because someone somewhere, is busy praying for you. Prayers are deathless. Lips that uttered them may be closed in death, but prayers live and wait for God's response from His throne. God's mercy is still lingering because of these prayers.

        In 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18 Paul said "5:17 Pray without ceasing. 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

What is prayer?

        Prayer is talking to God. We talk by sharing with Him our happiness, needs, plans and problems. We talk to Him as we ask for guidance, forgiveness and thanking Him for forgiving and guiding us. This also includes talking to Him, on behalf of others. When we talk we are not informing Him what He does not know. It is because we have confidence in Him and trust Him. We talk to Him because He is our creator and is the only one who can genuinely answer our prayers. We can talk to God anytime and anywhere.

        There is no time limit when you talk to God alone. However when others are present, time should be limited. We do not have the same endurance.
        We have several reasons why we come to the Lord in prayer. What ever our situation or condition is; God will always expect us to have the right A T T I T U D E when praying.

        One day Jesus was praying alone. His disciples found him and listened as he was praying. We have no record in the Bible of what Jesus said to His Father during this prayer. They were impressed and his prayer made a difference in their lives.

        All we have is the words of Luke 11:1, "11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."

        Jesus did not only teach his disciple to pray as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 What we now know as the Lord's prayer. It reads as follows, " 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen ."

        He guided his disciples as he taught them and us how and to whom we should pray. He taught them to be specific and to the point in their prayers.

        Jesus also prayed for his disciples and for us. We find this in John 17:14-21 which reads " 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. "

        God expect you to pray for yourself and also for others. You should include the needs of your neighbors, friends and relatives. Most of all I am expected to pray for my enemies. When you pray for others or someone, it is called INTERCESSORY prayer.

         Prayer is not only a requirement, but it is a human neccessity.
It also means you never have to say "there is nothing I can do"

        In James :5-8 the Bible reads, "1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 1:8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways."

As we kneel and pray, we express faith and hope in our creator. Prayer then brings C H A N G E S in our lives.

        In 1 John 5:13-15 we read, " 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

God's ear is open anytime for anyone who calls on His name. While we can talk to God from anywhere; when we come for worship there is a proper P O S T U R E in prayer.

The Lord will respect those who honor Him. Those who will show the difference between the creator of the universe and an idol. Elijah the Tishbite, did it at mount Carmel in the presents of king Ahab. The Bible says, "...and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees," 1 kings 18:42

May God be with you always and keep you from falling.