At the year end awards at her school, a young teen received all but one of the honors offered. She proudly brought her bright and shiny accolades home and took a good look at them. The emptiness of her new stash hit her as she realized that, in competition over one trophy, she had lost a friendship.
“Maybe there’s more to life than plastic trophies,” she thought. Though she had been to church a few times, until this moment, she hadn’t seriously thought about God. Before completely discarding God, she decided to try talking to Him.
“God, if you are real, let me know, and I’ll serve you the rest of my life. Otherwise, I have something better to do on Sundays – namely, watch NFL football.”
Though some may see this as a terribly irreverent way of talking to God, in reality, God hears the heart that’s communicating with Him. This 14-year-old was sincerely, from her heart, asking God to reveal Himself. And He did.
As in the testimony above, you need to, first, consider God and then decide to check Him out before disregarding Him. Though your prayers may sound awkward, if they are sincerely from your heart, God hears them.
Perhaps you don’t know how to get started. You’re in good company. Jesus’ disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1 NKJV). Jesus responded with what is traditionally called “The Lord’s Prayer.” (Luke 11:2-4).
Let’s break that prayer down:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”
The first section directs the pray-er (that would be you and me) to recognize and reverence the holiness of God above all gods.
“Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
The second section is recognizing our humble position before the all-powerful King of all kings.
“Give us day by day our daily bread.”
This third section acknowledges God, the true Provider for our every need.
“And forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.”
This fourth section shows the importance of our honesty about our sinful nature and confesses our guilt in the presence of our omniscient (all-knowing) LORD of all lords.
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
This fifth section is a recognition that we are prone to spiritual failure. You and I, all too often, do our own thing instead of living to please God.
The Gospel of Matthew adds: (Matthew 6:13).
“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
This final tribute directs our attention back to the awesomeness of God, our Maker and Redeemer, with Whom we are communicating.
“Amen.”
This term is used to express our sincere agreement with what we have prayed.
Be persistent in praying:
“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:17).
“Never Stop Praying.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT).
Be bold in praying:
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) While God hears our prayers, His answers don’t always line up with what we expect to hear. He may answer “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait.” His answers are always guided by His perfect will and wisdom.
Are there times when God doesn’t answer?
“If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I ignore my guilty feelings and do nothing about them], The Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18 AMP).
Oswald Chambers, Scottish evangelist and teacher in the early 1900s, said, “The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God.”
You will experience a whole new level of knowing the One, True, Almighty God as you step out in faith and pray in Jesus’ name. Try praying and you will indeed touch heaven.
