Prayer: Communication with God

Just recently an excellent sermon was preached in our local church on prayer. Many of those who heard the sermon were forced to search themselves on their own lack of prayer. It does seem quite often that we are buried with things to do in our daily life and we forget about someone who died for us. I know that in my own life that after the day is done I find myself so exhausted and prayer is the last thing on my mind. How sad it is that a talk with the creator of the universe can be the last thing on our mind. Then when we are burdened under the pressures of life we call on God and expect him to run to our rescue.Prayer is something that has to be cultivated like the crops that are watered every day by a farmer. He is constantly at work pulling weeds and making sure that harmful insects stay away from his source of revenue. Why do we not guard our own prayer life as if it is the thing that keeps us alive? In fact prayer is the thing that keeps us alive. At the end of the sermon the preacher asked us to look at ourselves as God does. I looked at my own life, and its' lack of prayer, and saw a man with tattered rags who could barely walk. I had no one to blame but myself. I was the one who let my prayer life die. But friends there is still hope. There is hope until the sounding of the trumpet. I know of many who heard the sermon and have let it change them. When we are praying we find ourselves protected from the temptations of satan. Not only are we safe from the devil's fiery darts we are also building our spirit so that when we go back out into the world we are prepared for the tricks and lies of the devil. I know that sometime it is a fight to find things to say in prayer but it is almost like practicing at something. I know people who have kept their prayer lives going for many years, and their prayers sound so eloquent. Yet sometimes when I pray I find myself searching for the words to say. Could it be that I do not know God as a friend like those who can pray for hours. That is why it is necessary to maintain a prayer life, so that way you get to know God in a new way. So do not think that you will be able to pray for hours and hours at first. Just build upon small amounts at first and eventually you will have a prayer life that will cause the devil to fear you. The Bible speaks of the prayer of a righteous man is very powerful and a force to be reckoned with (James 5:16 the Message). We need to always live a life that is clean and pure before the Lord and always yearn for a deeper and greater prayer life.

food for thought: James 5:15
tunes for the soul: Hillsong-United We Stand - clips available here
quote of the post: A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. -Ralph Waldo Emerson