The power of prayer

     There are lots of Scripture I could quote here about prayer.  Suffice it to say that that if I were to do so the length of this posting would be overwhelming.  Then who would read it?  Jesus was asked by his disciples how they should pray after hearing what he had to say about the futile prayers of the religious.  The prayer is simply known as "The Lord's Prayer".  It goes like this:  Matthew 6:5-14

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.^[a]
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,^[b]
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,^[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.^[d]

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

You can see the ACTS formula that I have written about before. Take notice of the language. Read the prayer over more than once but not so often that you see it as less than it is.  These are the words Jesus gave us by which to pray.  All the rest of the New Testament references to prayers are actual encounters where prayer is used, referred to and part of a greater picture.  Praying keeps us in contact with Jesus.  Prayer is a means to seek His will.  Prayer is a formidable weapon against Satan and his demons.  Prayer is a healing, prophetic and worship act by the Christian who has Jesus living through them.  Prayer isn't to be "vain repetitious".  Do you hear Jesus those who have seem to think Our Father and Hail Mary's have anything to do with Jesus?  

     If we ask the Father in Jesus' name he will do that which we ask according to his will.  Our focus isn't on praying that we can afford that new home or a tank of gas.  He knows our needs and provides for us in just the right time.  King David was on the run from Saul when he found himself cornered in a canyon.  With no way out David prayed that God would deliver him.  Please note that the Word says the answers to our prayers are on the way before the words pass over our lips.  As he prayed that prayer Saul received news of the Egyptians attacking the southern border.  The "runner" had to travel quite some time (several days) in order to reach Saul. Prior to that God had to bring the Egyptians to a point of crossing into the land with the intent to do war.  Much thinking and planning all for ONE moment when David asked God to deliver him.  God had been doing so for months while all this other stuff had been going on.  God does not sleep.  His army of angels are continually doing spiritual warfare on your and my behalf.  There is nothing more thrilling than to see how God brings a plan together.  

     In the prayer above you find the simplest of instructions.  Praise God, confess God, Ask God and forgive others so that you might be forgiven.  He will take care of your needs.  That's it.  Nothing but an ordinary prayer with extraordinary results!  The Lord God of heaven will be passing by.  You?  You should be so in tough with the will of God that as he passes by you can feel his presence and reach out and touch his garment.  The power of prayer has been given to you.  Freely utilize it's power.