Prayer

     There is much that can be said about prayer; how it makes us feel, and what can be achieved.  Personally, when I miss my prayer time in "A Friendly Shade," I often feel lonely, like something is missing in my life.  Actually something is missing; the guidance of my heavenly Father, because I have not asked. 
     You know, even Jesus prayed during His life on earth.  He prayed with strong crying and tears and was heard. 

Hebrews 5:7 "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared."

     Prayers can be given at any point in time during the day.  We find one timely example in Mark 1:35.

"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."   

      Another time, after the crowd that Jesus had been  ministering to was dismissed, Jesus needed a time of rest, just as we often need a time of rest after a long, stressful day at work.  What better way to refresh our souls and bodies than to spend time with the Lord?

 Matthew 14:23 "After he had dismissed them, he went up on  a mountainside by himself to pray.  When evening came, he was there alone."   

     Again, as the Son of God was teaching, healing, and being accused wrongfully by those seeking to find fault,  Jesus found He needed a time of prayer.

 Luke 6:12 "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into  a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."

      We are even given an example of how and where to pray.  Most refer to this as the Lord's Prayers. 

 Matthew 6:9-13 "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen   

      Notice here, that we are to have a quiet, solitary place to pray, and we are to start off by praising God and although we make requests, ask for His will to be done in all things.

     Scriptures let us know that throughout Jesus' walk on earth He prayed.   He needed the closeness of His Father who heard Him at all times just as He hears us today. 
     In prayer, we find rest for our souls, peace, comfort, and God's will for our lives.  However, the best answers to our prayers come when we let our hearts truly forgive others.

 Mark 11:25 "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. 

Matthew 6:14, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."     

     Jesus did not fail to leave us an example of this type of forgiveness.  In Luke 23:34 as He was on the Cross dying for our sins He prayed.

 "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."