The Bible is very clear that prayer is two-way conversation; and is no more than our having a conversation with God; and since we are told to do it unceasingly, obviously it entails more listening, than it does talking.
Prayer is NOT just about telling God our needs, either; and besides, Jesus said that God already knows what things we have need of.
Now that’s not to say we aren’t to pray about our needs, because the Bible tells us we are; but only that we keep our priorities in order, and make sure that we are seeking God’s Kingdom first, and His righteousness (His ways and means of doing things); and then Jesus said, when we do this, then all these other things, which we have need of (and which God already knows about) will be added unto us.
Prayer is also not about our telling God what He needs to do, and our giving Him our advice and instructions; but rather prayer is about our aligning ourselves and syncing our spirit man up with the Holy Spirit; and our tapping into the mind of God!
Prayer is about getting our instructions from God, in all wisdom and knowledge, and even revelation.
This wisdom and knowledge that is being made available to us, if we would but take the time to spend with God, in order to get it, it would save us so much time; make us more money; and keep us from much unnecessary pain and sufferings.
It is the wise man who has learned that time spent with God, in prayer, pays back in huge dividends, to all who avail themselves of it; and do so regularly… like every day, 24/7.
This prayer business is very important, and it is very serious too.
God has given us each also a prayer language; and I just heard a minister of a huge church, locally, say that tongues were not for today.
His view was that tongues were only a tool to speak to other people, as happened on the Day of Pentecost, so that others could understand what was being spoken; and he completely ignores the part where Paul talks about how, when you pray in tongues, in your prayer language, in your prayer closet, which is different from what this minister is talking about, that you are edified, and strengthen, and built up in the Holy Spirit.
This prayer language that God has given to us is but another tool which God has given to the church, to enable us to tap into His supernatural power and wisdom; and if we fail to avail ourselves of this practice, then it is we who suffer needlessly. Selah
Shalom,
Skip Barland
SB SALT AND LIGHT MINISTRIES 