by David Dewitt

Created on: June 24, 2008

We need to pray the promises of God
MT 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

The ability to live for God is only a prayer away. The verbs are in the present tense, indicating continuous activity. Jesus' followers can keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking, indicating the importance of persistent, consistent prayer in their lives. Only through prayer can believers stay in contact with God, know what he wants them to do, and then have the strength to do God's will in all areas of life.

Why does God not answer our prayers immediately? Why do we need to ask, seek and knock?

1.) Prayer teaches us to communicate and fellowship with God
The purpose of prayer is to experience the presence and power of God in a personal manner

2.) Prayer teaches us patience and hope
We need to remember that our timetable is not always the same as God's. There are times when prayer teaches us to get in tune with God's timing and with His divine plan

3.) Prayer teaches us to love God
While we wit on the Lord, we are drawn closer to Him. We become more and more on an intimate level with Him. Then when the answer comes we are drawn even closer to Him.

4.) Prayer teaches us to depend on God
Prayer is an act of faith and the more often we pray, the more our faith is built. When we lift requests up to God, we a depending on Him to work and to do what He has promised. We depend on God being our strength, our shield, our supply and support.

When we claim the promises of God when we pray, we are calling on God to do what He has already said He will do

God has the answer to every problem that you and I will ever face in life. After all if He is God, shouldn't He have all the answers for this life? The reason that we wander aimless and clueless through life is because we lack the direction of God. We lack that direction because we fail to seek God and ask for it.

The advice of Jesus about prayer
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6

1.) Get alone with God
There is an important shift that takes place in verse 6, the you becomes singular. this means that Jesus is talking about individual prayer. Does Jesus expect us to find an empty room and use that for prayer. No but the principle is being alone with

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