Since the time when Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden of Eden, mankind has struggled to keep a one-on-one relationship with God. Before sin, God walked with Adam in the cool of the day and spoke to man with an audible voice (Genesis 3:8–9).
After the fall of man, God spoke to His people a majority of the time through elected vessels. However, some individuals found they could speak with God themselves (e.g., Abraham, Moses, and Samuel). When individuals spoke to God, they had supernatural results. The manner in which these individuals spoke to God was through prayer.
We can accomplish much in a constant prayer life with the Lord. He has told us if we humble ourselves, pray, and turn from our wicked ways, He will answer our prayers (II Chronicles 7:14). God promised He would maintain a divine relationship with His people if they followed these simple directions—to pray. However, when we forsake the Lord and neglect our prayer life, we will not experience the promises of God (II Chronicles 7:19–22). God’s promises are conditional and based on our relationship with Him.
Prayer helps us maintain our one-on-one relationship with God. If we don’t pray enough, we can lose out on God’s blessings. We pray because we need His power, healing, salvation, and everything else. Because we need God’s blessings to make it through each day, our prayer life needs to be a day-by-day activity. Scripture admonishes us to ask, seek, and knock, and when we do, we shall receive what we are looking for in God (Matthew 7:7).
Many people approach their prayer life as a way to fill time and recite empty sayings. We’re told in Scripture not to pray with vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7). We should not want to waste our time in prayer, but to make contact with God and feel His presence.
We’re given many examples in Scripture of how to pray, and we can find an example known as “the Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9–13. This was not meant for us to repeat, but to follow it’s order:
James also tells us the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). We are to confess our shortcomings to those who are strong in the Lord (spiritual leadership) and bind together in prayer with them to overcome our obstacles. If we follow after righteousness, our prayers will be powerful and will accomplish much in God’s kingdom.
There is never a time that’s inappropriate to pray. Scriptures tell us to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). Don’t ever stop praying! We are to keep our minds focused on the Lord. No matter what we are doing, we can pray for God to give us strength to make it through, lead us to complete the right actions, have the right spirit/attitude, order our steps, etc.
When we pray, we should expect God to answer! Sometimes God’s answer will be yes, no, or wait. Whatever His answer, we should know it’s God’s will, and the outcome will happen according to His timing.
We should also be careful to pray in accordance with God’s will. When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed for the cup to pass from Him, but He ended His prayer with, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39). Even if our flesh wants something to happen, we must always pray for God’s will. We need to follow the example Jesus set for us.
Today is an opportunity for each of us to commune with the Lord in prayer. It’s time to realize what prayer is all about, what it can accomplish in God’s kingdom, and what it will do for us in our relationship with the Lord.
Life Church is a praying church. If you have a need for prayer or need us to pray for a loved one, you can send us a prayer request here and our prayer team would be happy to pray for you.
Again, wherever you are on your journey, we want to help guide you along your way. Please click the button below and we will be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Sunday –
Morning Worship – 9:30 & 11:00
Children’s Church – 11:00 am
Marshallese Services – 2:00 pm
Tuesday –
Prayer Service – 7:00 pm
Wednesday –
Family Training Hour – 7:00 pm
Life Student Ministries – 7:00 pm
Life Church Kids – 7:00 pm
Friday –
Restored Life Recovery – 7:00 pm
Life Church at South Mountain
2320 E. Baseline Rd. Suite 148-415
Phoenix, AZ 85042
Life Church at South Mountain
7606 S. 41st St.
Phoenix, AZ 85042
Event updates are sent out weekly on Monday mornings.