Number one prayer must be a priority the priority of a Christian prayer
when you read the bible that's God talking to you but when you pray that's you talking to God
it's the most important thing that a believer can do is develop a prayer life a consistent
unbroken place in time a prayer every day in your life what should the priority of every believer be
the one thing that should never be forsaken or set aside by believers
Paul says here that prayer should be first of all
prayer is not just a suggestion for the church it's it's not an afterthought you know the
prayer isn't a place that we go to as a last resort when things are are tough and and we've
tried everything else I don't know how many times you might have said or maybe I've said
well I can't do anything else I guess I'll pray we need to start with prayer
there always be something else you need to do there will always be something in somebody
intruding that's why Jesus said when you pray go into a closet a solitary place is all that
he's saying the word closet is found four times in the new testament and it literally means a secret
place a secret chamber a secret a private place a place of privacy go into that place and he put
says these words shut the door shut the door don't let people interrupt you don't let cause this is
our time this is it and it must be a priority in your life instead of instead of you building your
life all like this and I got this and I got that and I got this and I got that and then I'll try to
work prayer in you you're not going to pray you're not going you're never going to have a prayer life
you're never going to be powerful and be what God wanted you to be you're never going to do
it if you don't build prayer into your calendar and everything else has to work around that
and if that means getting up an hour early if that means when you come home and you have
might have to give up a little time in the gym because you know the body is not going to last
through eternity but what your soul and what your spirit is doing is going to matter for
eternity why why is why make it a priority because prayer is a sin killer prayer is a power bringer
prayer is a Christ revealer prayer is an obstacle remover prayer is a dispute healer prayer is a
holiness promoter prayer is a victory giver and when we pray and when we say it's a priority I
know people are calling I know this is urgent I know that but I'm shutting the door on it all
he's all I need he's all I need I can deal with that that that when I come out I'm like
superman in the phone booth and when I come out I've been with him and I can deal with it
you know you can go back to Matthew chapter 6 where Jesus says when you pray
not if you pray but when you pray go into your room and when you've shut the door
you pray to your father who is in a secret place and your father who sees in secret
will reward you openly so there's this time that God instructs us to go and pray just by ourselves
one on one between us and the Lord that God would would see our hearts were where we don't feel
like we have to put on any kind of heirs it it's just us and the God who sees everything clearly
and God who who hears you in that secret place
will reward you openly that that you'll be able to see the work of God and the answer to your prayers
and what an awesome reward that is I'm sure you've been in that place as I have as well
to to have a a need or to pray for somebody or a situation and then be able to see God's answer
I can't think of a better reward than than being able to rejoice in the answered prayer of our God
the biggest obstacle for me when it came to prayer
I was just too busy too busy too many other priorities too many things on my to-do list
I didn't have the time or so I thought to pray then my mentor said this
we all have time for the things that are really important and beneficial to us
and he was right maybe you go to a quiet place or or or designate a time during the day
when you turn off your phone and and the tv and get away from everything else and just spend
time in prayer with the Lord allow him to show you the the needs that you have in your life and then
lift those up to him and rely upon him keeping your eyes on the Lord and and what his will is
setting apart ourselves just to spend intimate time with our heavenly father spend time in prayer
spend time with the Lord alone spend time corporately praying with your brothers and sisters
pray for those who are in need pray for your leaders that they might be saved for this is
good and acceptable in the sight of our God and our savior I like that a lot if you're unsure
of what God would have you to do in a specific situation you can know for sure that this is God's
will for you that you should pray that you should get on your knees and just lay those things out
before the Lord and trust him with them in times of anxiety and and depression and times of fear
go to the Lord and and lift those things up to him and watch God give you that that peace
that surpasses all understanding knowing that you're in the perfect will of God at that time
and in that place and it says very early in the morning while it was still dark
Jesus got up left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed now here's what
I believe if the son of God thinks prayer is a priority shouldn't I think it's a priority too
when we start our day in prayer I know when I do when I start my day in prayer after being
reminded of God's presence and power and wisdom I pray through all that I got to do all the
appointments I have the meetings I have people I have to see the decisions I have to make because I
need God's wisdom I need God's insight I need his direction through his spirit and it starts when I
connect with him in prayer you see prayer provides wisdom and for important decisions it really does
and maybe you're at a decision crossroad right now you're trying to figure some things out
you know the outcome and is critical and the consequences are significant are you willing
to take it over time to God in prayer and listen for his wisdom you know when we pray
and bring God into the picture he might not change what's going on often he doesn't but
he'll give us a perspective to keep going through it this is why prayer is a priority
I mean think of the the blessing that God has given to us as his people
to come boldly into his throne room of grace any time of the day any time we have a need
that we can come before the Lord and find grace and help in our time of need
why would we ever forsake that time prayer replenishes our emotions
and our soul prayer is where we're reminded of God's presence we're reminded of God's power
we're reminded of God's peace and his joy in his presence no matter how tired we feel when
our soul and our emotions are empty and thirsty it's the presence of God that replenishes them
that's why Jesus says come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest
take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will
find rest for your soul there's an old hymn that has these lines oh what peace we often forfeit
oh what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer
and that's why we need prayer so what do you think should we pray
should we pray knowing that God hears our our prayers shall we pray knowing that God knows
best and he has the power to reach the hardest heart it's his desire that all would come to him
we know that he hears and we know that he answers and we know his will would be done
what a powerful place god has given to us why would we ever forsake that time
why would he have we ever put that second or third or or at the bottom of our list
I'd encourage you put your priority straight and and spend time with the Lord
pray without ceasing give thanks to the Lord that's God's will for you and for me