Dear Friends,
In Luke 11:1 the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (NLT) indicating that prayer is something that is learned through teaching and practice. Jesus then shared what is commonly referred to as “the Lord’s Prayer.” However, it’s essential to understand that Jesus wasn’t merely giving a rigid formula; instead, He provided a framework for approaching God in prayer.
We can immerse ourselves in books about prayer, study biblical accounts, and hear firsthand testimonies of those who’ve encountered the Lord and witnessed extraordinary answers to prayer. Yet, despite all this, we might still miss the essence of prayer and grapple with disappointment or disillusionment. That’s where personal exploration and experience come into play.
Prayer isn’t a spectator sport; it’s an intimate journey. It’s about opening our hearts, engaging with the Divine, and allowing our spirits to encounter the living God. As we seek Him earnestly, we discover that prayer isn’t a formulaic checklist; it’s a dynamic relationship—a dialogue that transforms us from the inside out. I encourage you to experience prayer firsthand. Let it be more than a concept; let it become your lifeline to the One who hears, understands, and responds.
Jesus said, “Eternal life means to know and experience you as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (TPT)
Friends, this is what eternal life is all about—knowing and experiencing the Father through His Son Jesus Christ! And we begin this relationship NOW—not one of these days when we get to heaven! In the following pages, we’ll explore this sacred dialogue, not as a duty, but as an invitation to an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father!
In His Loving Name
Life With Father Ministries
IT’S PERSONAL
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 (NKJV)
One night while praying I began quoting scripture that pertained to the things I was praying about. As I brought God’s Word before Him, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Please don’t do that.” I gasped when I realized what He revealed to me. He was saying please don’t parrot my Word back to me without any heart or thought in it! Come to think of it, I was mentally disconnected from my prayers. This kind of praying is not fervent or effective!
Authenticity in prayer is essential. Our relationship with God thrives when we express our genuine heartfelt thoughts and feelings to Him. Imagine having a conversation with someone who merely recites robotic phrases—it would indeed be cold and impersonal. Similarly, our connection with the Lord requires honesty and vulnerability. When we pour out our hearts to Him, we move beyond religious rituals and tap into the power and effectiveness of true communion.
Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:7-8… “When you pray, there is no need to repeat empty phrases, praying like the Gentiles do, for they expect God to hear them because of their many words. There is no need to imitate them since your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.” (TPT)
Indeed, God longs for personal interaction with each of us. He isn’t interested in mere rote repetition of empty words. Instead, He invites us to speak from our hearts—to share our deepest thoughts, joys, and struggles. When we approach Him authentically, we build a genuine relationship. So, speak to Him from your heart. Tell Him all that is on your mind. Ask Him to help you understand Him better and to pray more effectively. Following are some Scriptures to remember as you pursue prayer!
“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (TPT)
“Only God is my Savior, and he will not fail me. For he alone is my safe place. His wraparound presence always protects me as my champion defender. There’s no risk of failure with God! So why would I let worry paralyze me, even when troubles multiply around me? God’s glory is all around me! His wraparound presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength. Trust only in God every moment! Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him. Believe me when I tell you—he will help you!” Psalm 62:5-8 (TPT)
STICKS AND STONES
“I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them.” Matthew 5:44 (TPT)
Upon awakening one morning, I opened my heart to the Lord. In quiet anticipation, He prompted me to pray for someone—specifically for an individual who had caused me pain. His guidance was clear: pray for their success and well-being. I obeyed, lifting my prayers for this person. As I did, God unveiled a hidden stone within my spirit—an unnoticed callousness had formed from past hurts inflicted by this individual. Despite their lack of apology, I had forgiven them each time they wounded me. Yet, over time, when the memory of their actions surfaced, it painfully scraped across my consciousness like a jagged stone.
It struck me that I had not fully completed the forgiveness process as outlined in the opening verse: “…Pray for those who hurt you.” I had forgiven them, but I had not specifically prayed for them. This revelation prompted me to intercede for their well-being. It wasn’t easy at first but as I did so; that little stone of hurt slipped away, and I experienced true freedom. Through the act of forgiveness and prayer, the Lord, in return, removed my stone and healed my inner wounds!
Praying for those who emotionally or mentally hurt us doesn’t come “naturally” yet, it’s a powerful and beneficial act of obedience to the Lord’s command in Mark 11:25, “And whenever you stand praying, if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults.” (TPT)
Again, Jesus said, “…love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” Luke 6:27b-28 (NLT) Ignoring our issues of hurt and pain will not make them go away. We must bring these things to the Lord and lay them on His Cross. Everything that was done to us or not done for us—all the emotional and mental hurt, and all the ugly and vile things mankind can conjure up and throw at another human being is now neutralized at the Cross. Jesus is still alive today and His Cross is still powerful enough to extinguish the most depraved sins!! This is where we dump all sin and pain in exchange for healing and wholeness!
Indeed, people can cause us pain—sometimes intentionally, but often unintentionally. And not everyone will acknowledge their wrongdoing or offer an apology. As time passes, our desire for relief from emotional and mental pain may surpass the need for an apology.
So, what’s the remedy for escaping the pain caused by others’ transgressions? It lies in Christ’s Cross and the practice of forgiveness and prayer (Matthew 5:44-45).
IT’S YOUR CHOICE!
Did you know that where you spend eternity is your own choice? Yes, your eternal destination is not a matter of chance but a choice you make! You can either choose to accept Jesus’s death on the Cross as payment for your sins, invite Him into your life and go to Heaven, or reject Him and spend eternity without Him in hell. There is no other way to heaven except by accepting Jesus’s gift of salvation. Romans 6:16 explains this choice in detail…
“Don’t you realize that grace frees you to choose your own master? But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant—bound to the one you choose to obey. If you choose to love sin, it will become your master, and it will own you and reward you with death. But if you choose to love and obey God, he will lead you into perfect righteousness.” (NLT)
If you died today, do you know for certain where you would spend eternity? All anyone needs to do to have eternal life is to call on the name of the Lord Jesus, (Acts 2:21) repent of your sins (be sincerely sorry for your sins and change your mind and actions, (Acts 3:19) believe that Jesus died on the Cross for your sin, (1 Thessalonians 4:4) and ask Him to become Born Again by the Spirit of God! There’s no other way to heaven than becoming a new Born Again person in Christ!
Jesus said in John 3:16-18, “I speak an eternal truth: Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you will never enter God’s kingdom. For the natural realm only gives birth to things that are natural, but the spiritual realm gives birth to supernatural life! “You shouldn’t be amazed by my statement, ‘You all must be born from above!’” (TPT)
If you are uncertain of your eternal destiny, then pray the following prayer with all sincerity of heart and become Born Again! Salvation is not a reward, but a gift of God to anyone who will simply ask!
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Dear Jesus, I’m so sorry for all the things I’ve done up until this day. The Bible says that the punishment for sin is certain death. (Romans 6:23) But you took my place and died so that I could be free from selfishness and sin and have eternal life. Jesus, I acknowledge that you died for me, and I accept your death as payment for my sins. Please forgive me Jesus, come into my life, make me a new person. I choose to make you my Lord and Savior. Guide me, teach me and empower me to choose what is right so that I can live the kind of life that is pleasing to you. Thank you, Jesus, for Your great sacrifice on the Cross. Thank you for giving me eternal life! Amen.