SATURDAY EDITORIAL

PRAYER BASICS

Every activity in life has basic rules that must be followed before success can be achieved. For example, if you want to play the game of baseball, you would not use the rules that govern the game of football. You can’t get to first base, let alone make a home run without a bat. You’ll just stand at home plate watching the ball whiz by and strike out every time.

The same principle is true when it comes to prayer. There are basic rules that must be followed in order to have a winning prayer life. Without them, you will continually strike out and never achieve God’s will for your life.

Prayer has been defined as “communication with God.” Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated the importance of staying in constant communication with His Father. Because prayer was His lifestyle, Jesus always knew where He was going and what He would say and do when He got there. Through His example, we know that the very first rule about prayer is that we need to do it!

Hebrews 5:7 in the Amplified Bible says, “In the days of His flesh {Jesus} offered up definite, special petitions {for that which He not only wanted but needed} and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was {always} able to save Him {out} from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God {His godly fear, His piety; in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father}”

Now, if the matchless Son of God offered up “definite, special petitions” for what he “not only wanted but needed” shouldn’t we follow His example and do the same? Notice that the Word doesn’t say that Jesus’ prayer was heard because He was the Son of God. It says that His prayer was heard because of His reverence toward God.

Jesus said, “…The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise…I do nothing of Myself; but as my Father hath taught Me. I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me; the Father hath not left Me alone, for I do always those things that please Him” {John 5:19, 8:28-29}

While talking with a friend about the importance of prayer, I said, “It’s not that God won’t, it’s that we don’t” Why? Because the devil convinces us that God won’t answer our prayers, so we don’t even bother to pray. How many victories were never won because we failed to go to God for help in the time of need? Realize today that it is not that God won’t, but rather that we don’t.

Excerpt from the Covenant by Cathy Duplantis