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Once you accept Christ into your heart, there are often times when we wonder about prayer. 

Most of the time, our prayers are an endless array of words spun up to the Lord.  While that is true, prayer as described by Webster’s dictionary is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God. 

I would go a step further and say that prayer is the practice of the presence of God. Prayer is our response to Him. 

In prayer, our character is molded and shaped. Think of prayer as preparation for the battle ahead. Communication with God is what aligns our hearts toward our eternal Father.

Prayer is worshipping and honoring God, and it is our incense offered up to Him. 

Here is a basic guide to prayer:

• ADORATION: Open your prayer by adoring God.  Start by simply praising Him for all that He is.

• CONFESSION: Confession of sins. Ask for a cleaning of your heart, mind, body & soul.

• THANKSGIVING: Give God thanks for everything He has provided for you. Go throughout your home and lay your hands on things and thank him for richly blessing you.

• SUPPLICATION: This is where you present your requests to God. Ask Him to provide for your needs.

Below is an example of prayer using your hand:

Now that you know more about prayer and have a basic model for it how do we maintain a healthy prayer life make our relationship with God flourish?

Below are some examples:

1. All relationships flourish on compliments. Compliment God. Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

2. All relationships thrive on active listening. Be still and listen for His voice. Set apart all distractions & quiet yourself before him.  Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

3. All relationships develop with consistent communication.  Be consistently devoted to God. Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Unless we are in constant communication we aren’t sure of who God is.)

4. All relationships require honesty.  1 John 1: 7-9 If we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We as believers of Jesus need to keep daily accounts with God through regular cleansing, which is why need to confess our sins and seek repentance.

Prayer is where the physical mirrors the spiritual.

• Our breathing is equal to prayer with God.

• Our drinking is equal to worshipping with God.

• Our eating is equal to reading the word of God.

• Our exercise is equal to acts of service.

Prayer changes the one praying because as you are in the presence of God, you lay before Him your complete self in total dependence.

In total abandonment, our hearts are quieted and our pride is stripped bare. It’s in this intimate moment where we are face to face with our creator.

It is within this moment that we are looking inside of ourselves and seeking a relationship with God.

Prayer is communication with our true savior.

Are you struggling in your prayer life right now? How can we help you?