No 1

(Prayer)

“Their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.” 2 Chronicles 30:27.

Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any case and in every peril. Swords and spears need sharpening but prayer never dulls and when we think it most blunt, it cuts the best. Prayer is an open door which no one can shut; demons may surround us on all sides, but the way upward is always open as long as that road is unobstructed – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” Psalm 66:18. Prayer gains audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of the noonday or in the shade of evening. In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, our covenant God will welcome our prayer and answer it from His holy place. Prayer is never futile; we may not always get what we ask for, but we shall always have our real needs met. When God does not answer His children according to the letter, He does so according to the spirit. If we seek bodily health, should we complain if instead He makes our sickness turn to the healing of spiritual illnesses? The apostle Paul thought it necessary to “Pray without ceasing” and in the same breath encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:17,18. When we solicit Our Heavenly Father in righteous and fervent prayer, He is only too happy to listen because He wishes only what is good for His children. There are models of prayer in the Bible but I believe that we should speak in our own words and tell God how we feel about any given situation; He will listen, the Bible says so “that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” John 15:16. It is not so much that prayer will change God’s plan but that it ought to be according to His will; we should always pray according to God’s will; this also applies to intercessory prayer as well.