One of my greatest memories of prayer is after dedicating 2 ½ years of my life to studying Scripture in ministry training to fulfill my deep desire to know God and His truths better.

During the graduation ceremony, the entire school staff and student body gathered around my classmates and I, laid their hands on us and the president of the school prayed for God’s protection, provision, and guidance as we answered God’s call to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18 – 20)

I remember the peace, joy, and safety I felt in that moment of being in fellowship with God and His people. It brings tears of joy to my eyes and makes me smile.

Photo: 2015 Missions Graduation – Sunset International Bible Institute – Lubbock, Texas

Communion with God

Being in covenant communion with God is the most important relationship. God created mankind in His image and He desires fellowship with mankind. (Genesis 1:27; 2:7)

Jesus said “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 NIV)

God is:

• Holy
• Righteous
• Faithful
• Merciful
• Loving
• Forgiving
• Eternal 
• Sovereign – reigns over the universe; there is no higher authority (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15)
• Omnipotent (all-powerful)
• Omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time)
• Omniscient (all-knowing)
• Worthy to be praised

Because of who God is, He is worthy of all praise. He is worthy of our time to unite with Him in prayer. 

Privilege of Prayer

It is only because of the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, that Christians have the right to pray directly to God. 

Before Christ:

• Was born of a virgin
• Endured all of the temptations we face
• Lived a sinless life on earth among mankind for about 33 years
• Was Crucified
• Was Buried
• Was Resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4)
• Ascended into heaven awaiting the time when He will return

Mankind could not approach God in prayer for himself. Priests approached God in prayer for mankind. Under the Mosaic dispensation (Law of Moses), Biblical priests were earthly men who had to cleanse themselves of sin before going before God on their own behalf and on behalf of the people. (Hebrews chapters 8 – 9)

Thank God for the Christian dispensation! Today, each Christian is a priest (1 Peter 2:9) and can boldly approach the throne of grace for himself/herself. 

Power of Prayer

• Elijah prayed and it did not rain for 3 years and 6 months (James 5:17)
• Paul and Silas sang and prayed while in prison and suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison  were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed (Acts 16:16 – 40)
• The New Testament church prayed after the apostles were released from prison and the place where they were assembled was shaken (Acts 4:23 – 31)

Practice of Prayer

Prayer is communication with God.

This world we live in is filled with distractions.

Satan relentlessly tries to bombard our hearts, minds, eyes, and ears with things that take our focus off of God. 

Many times our prayers are mumbled, rushed, and without intentional thought.

We need to practice the spiritual discipline of prayer.

Making intentional prayer and reading Scripture a part of our daily routine will help to comfort, strengthen, protect, and bless us with wisdom on how to live in a manner pleasing to God. 

Our Prayers Should be:

• Earnest – with sincere and intense conviction; seriously
• From our heart – feelings, emotions, opinions, thoughts
• From our mind – intellect (the part of mankind that conceives, judges or reasons)
• Not rushed or hurried

3 Scriptures on Prayer

• Men ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1)
• In everything by prayer (Philippians 4:6)
• Continue in prayer (Colossians 4:2)

My heart was deeply convicted while I was writing this blog. It caused me to examine my prayer life and ask God to forgive me for the times I did not diligently set my heart and mind on Him and concentrate during my prayers because of the cares/distractions of this life. 

Do You Accept God’s Invitation to Approach His Throne of Grace?

(Hebrews 4:14 – 16)

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Have you examined your prayer life?

Is your prayer life pleasing to God?

God bless you

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