House of Prayer
Central to any relationship is communication. If you don't talk to others and relay your feelings, and in turn listen to them, what kind of relationship do you have? The same is true with God. We are privileged to be allowed to communicate with God through prayer.
Matthew 21:13 - “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Jesus died to destroy the sin that separates us from God, and when we give our lives to Him, we have a personal relationship with Him. Just as we enjoy fellowship with our children, God enjoys fellowship with His children through prayer. Anyone can pray to God, and He encourages us to pray often and without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17).
Why do so many people find it difficult to pray? Some still feel guilty, or think they might say the "wrong" things. But the truth is, God already knows our thoughts and desires. He just wants to hear them from us. There is no "right" or "wrong" prayer if we humble ourselves and speak openly and honestly. If you are married, we encourage you to pray aloud together with your spouse. (watch short video clip)
Romans 8:26 - “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
We speak to God through prayer, and He speaks to us from His word. Both are priceless gifts ... prayer and His word. And like anything else, the more you do it, the better you do it. God doesn't want to hear those repetitive words we learned as a child (although teaching toddlers a repetitive prayer helps them begin learning to pray). Would YOU want to hear the same thing over and over, every time you talk with a friend?
Matthew 6:7 - “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
Prayer isn't to be confined to any one place ... we are to pray any time, every where. We pray in our homes, with our families, at our meals, when we're on vacation, at work, at worship service ... publicly or privately. We pray to give thanks to God for His provision, grace and mercy; we pray for healing; for the needs of others; to confess our sin; to glorify His name! Let your children and grandchildren hear you praying! Read related
Prayers don't have to be long and beautifully worded to get God's attention. When Jesus was walking on the water (Matthew 14:25-31) and bid Peter to come, Peter did, but then took his focus off of Jesus, started to sink, got scared and cried, "Lord, save me!" It was a clear, simple, straight-to-the-point prayer, but effective!
Life feels heaviest when our focus shifts from Jesus to the chaotic world around us. That’s exactly what happened to Peter on the Sea of Galilee. When his eyes were fixed on Jesus, he did the impossible—he walked on water—but then when he looked at the wind and the waves, he got scared and began to sink.In this account of Matthew, God teaches us a powerful truth: The waves don’t drown you—losing sight of Jesus does.
If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, here's how. If you aren't praying regularly to God, now is the time to start. Like Peter, keep your focus on Jesus and He'll reach down and grab you out of the water. Talk with Him as you would your best friend ... because He is.
"We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. And who does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs?" ~~Matthew Henry
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