Heritage Academy

The scriptures tell us a lot about prayer.  As a matter of fact, there isn't one person featured in the scriptures (in a positive light) that wasn't a person of prayer.  In Genesis, we learn that ALL of the patriarchs were men of prayer.  Enoch had such a powerful relationship with God through prayer that God just took him on to heaven without dying so they could just be together all the time.  We also read about Noah and his relationship with the Lord.  The Scriptures tell us that Noah was the most righteous man on earth, and he was a man of prayer.  Abraham's prayers caused him to leave his homeland and travel to a land that God promised him.  He was known as a "friend of God."  Isaac's relationship with God (through prayer) gave him the faith and wisdom to "sow in the land" during a time of famine, and we read that he "reaped an hundred fold" while everyone around him lost everything.  Jacob wrestled with God and would not let Him go, he said, "until you bless me."  And God did bless him.  God also gave him a new name--Israel.  Jacob's son, Joseph, had such a relationship with the Lord that God gave him revelation that no one else had, and his understanding propelled him to rulership over the entire land of Egypt.  I could go on and on.  The point is that it's time for us to become people of prayer.  Prayer is the Key that unlocks the Kingdom of Heaven.  All of the promises of God are found in the secret place of prayer.  Jesus taught, "When you pray," not "if you pray."  He continued by saying, "go into your room and close the door behind you and pray to your Father in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."  It may be that the reason we aren't seeing the "open reward" is because we haven't spent time in the secret place of prayer.  James wrote, "you have not because you ask not."  Prayer is essential for us to have a real relationship with God.  It is in the place of prayer that we learn the voice of God, the will of God, peace, comfort, wisdom and direction.  If we want to enjoy the same kinds of result that our forefathers had, then we must come back to a place of focused prayer.  When I say "focused," I don't mean, "now I lay me down to sleep" or "rub-a-dub-dub thanks for the grub."  I mean finding a secret place, kneeling before our Holy God, bowing our heads and even folding our hands, and giving Him all of our attention.  I just wonder what He could do in our lives if we really gave Him exclusive time...will we ever know?