Communication with God by Gwyn Oakes

How do we communicate with God? By prayer and reading His Word. If the disciples felt their most urgent need was to learn to pray, it would follow that learning to pray should be our greatest need as well. The disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them to preach, to teach, or to sing. Their request was, “Teach us to pray.” We communicate with Him through prayer.

My father was a man of prayer. After my mother’s death when I was three years old, I would have nightmares and awaken screaming. Daddy would hold me and talk to God about my fears. When I was sick, he prayed; and as I grew up, I heard him pray for me. He prayed, he prayed . . .  my father’s relationship with God was so special that I desired that same communication with God.

Prayer was an essential practice for the church in the New Testament. Likewise, prayer must be essential in our lives if we are to have His blessing on our ministry. When we pray fervently, we know that the power of God is at work. How? Because James 5:16 declares, “The effectual fervent prayer . . . availeth much.” Fervent prayer opens the way to a Sprit-filled life and brings us power for ministry. Prayer, sincere and earnest prayer, clarifies the will of God for our lives and helps us to overcome Satan. When we pray, we bring glory to God.

Prayer is like any other exercise. It is most beneficial if it is consistent. We cannot separate prayer from everyday life. Satan knows our weaknesses and will do his best to distract our minds and thoughts while praying. So discipline in prayer is very necessary to our calling—not just discipline to pray, but discipline while we pray. If we can be separated from our source of strength, then understanding our mission will not be accomplished. When we pray, God opens doors for us and gives us direction in our calling, just as he did for the apostle Paul.

There is no greater privilege than communication with God. There is no greater calling than the call to be an intercessor. Prayer does not make us ready for the greater work; it is the greater work. Prayer does not prepare us for the battle—prayer is the battle. Christ, our example, won His battles in prayer.

Much is written about prayer in the scriptures. Prayer is our lifeline to the throne of God. Paul told the Colossians to “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). We must pray continuously, intensely, and stay alert to the things that would keep us from communication and a right relationship with God.

Excerpt from The Front Row by Gwyn Oakes

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