Prayer is personal: for it enhances our love-life with our God.
David's thanksgiving showed this: 'Seek the Lord and His strength: seek His face for evermore.' (1 Chronicles 16:11). Jeremiah wrote, 'You shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.' (29:13) We must be whole-hearted in our relationship with our Lord.

It is a rare privilege for us, as children, to embrace our heavenly Father.
Elijah enjoyed this freedom, ' The prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant ( a bonded association ) and that I have done all these things at Your command.' (1 Kings 18:36)

Purity is the essence of the believer's prayer.
David sang, 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.' (Psalm 66:18) Our inner lives must first be cleansed in the precious blood of the Lamb.
Luke told how 'Zechariah and Elisabeth were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord:' this was attested by the Angel, 'Do not afraid, Zecharias, your prayer is heard.' (Luke 1:6, 13)

Prayer is powerful: for we commune with our Omnipotent (Almighty) God.
John in the Revelation wrote, 'Another angel was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints ascended before God from the angel's hand.' (8:3,4 ) Prayer generates power, that flows from the throne of the Lord.

Your prayer is productive: for the Lord promised he would hear and answer.
Gideon cried, 'Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece: let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.' (Judges 6:39) The result of his prayer confirmed Gideon's faith. Hannah's faith moved her God, as prophet Eli assured, 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition (longing for a man child ), which you have asked of Him. ( 1 Samuel 1:17)

Indeed, it is precious: for it links the heavenly father with the pray-er.
John wrote, 'the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8) Our entreaty is not dissipated, for the Lord treasures our prayers, storing them in the golden bowls.

Our Lord Jesus purchased the right of prayer with His death and resurrection.
John continues in his Revelation, 'You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open the seals, for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth.' (5:9, 10)

Praise is prayer that delights the Lord. John sang, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing.' (Revelation 5:12) Praise should be on our lips, as the Psalms conveyed, 'Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.' (50:23)

Petitioning solicits God's help for the needy. David beautifully expressed this, 'We will rejoice in your salvation. And in the name of the Lord we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfil all your petitions.' We expect great things of the Lord, whose promises build hope. We are in direct contact with our living God,

The Holy Spirit prompts all prayer. Actually, 'The Holy Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.' (Romans 8:26) The indwelling Spirit urges us to pray, directing us in that plea.

The same Holy Spirit perfects our limited prayer. 'Peter and John raised their voice to God with one accord,' 'and when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.' (Acts 4:24, 31)

Prayer is presented to our God as a love gift. Solomon poured out from his grateful heart, 'If my people who are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then shall I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.' (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Stored in the golden vials, prayer is perennial. Our Lord urged us to pray,' 'Men ought always to pray, and not lose heart.' (Luke 18:1) Regardless of season or circumstances, the Lord longs for us to approach Him. Paul in Ephesians 6:18 wrote, 'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.' Our spiritual life depends on prayer, even as our physical life is maintained with breathing.

We enjoy the prerogative of praying. Isaiah wrote, 'Before they call, I will answer. While they are yet speaking, I will hear'. (65:24)

Pleading for precious lives, or intercession, is part of the Christian warfare. Paul wrote, 'He who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.' (Romans 8:27)

PRAYER; PERSONAL; PRIVILEGE; POWERFUL; PRODUCTIVE; PRECIOUS; PURCHASED; PRAISE; PETITION; PREROGATIVE; PROMPTED; PERFECTED; PRESENTED; PLEADING; PERENNIAL.

GWENDA